CARAVAN and park owners from across Wales met near Machynlleth last week to discuss the future of the industry.

Caravan park owners, tourism leaders, Assembly Member Russell George, Shadow Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure; Glyn Davies, prospective Conservative parliamentary candidate for Montgomeryshire, and university graduates attended the event in Machynlleth organised by British Holiday and Home Park Association’s mid Wales branch.

A tour of the five-star Morben Isaf Holiday Park at Derwenlas was followed by visits to Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust’s Dyfi Osprey Project, caravan dealership Salop Leisure’s Machynlleth sales centre and Plas Dolguog Hotel, where there was a tour of solar panel and biomass systems.

Speakers included Rufus Bellamy, son of famous botanist and environmental campaigner, David Bellamy; Dr Brian Garrod, head of tourism at Aberystwyth University; Glyn Roberts, head of quality development and operations at Visit Wales; Dylan Roberts, managing director of Salop Leisure; Val Hawkins, MWT Cymru chief executive; Richard Rhodes, director of the BH & HPA’s mid Wales branch and Mr George.

Visit Wales data shows that quality standards on caravan parks in Wales are constantly rising to match customer expectations.

Seventy-seven per cent of parks achieved four and five-star gradings in 2017 compared to 72 per cent five years ago.

Caravanners and campers spent £428 million in Wales in 2015 when there were 2.6 million visits. The prime months for visitors were from May to August with 63 per cent attracted by the seaside, 23 per cent by the countryside and 14 per cent by small towns.

A quarter of all visitors to Wales stayed in caravans or camping accommodation.

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