A NEW castle tour has been created following an influx of Japanese tourists to north Wales.

Plans have been unveiled for a new tourism scheme created especially for the increasing number of Japanese visitors fuelling the tourism boom in north Wales.

The Roads of Castles in Wonderland initiative which includes the Llyn Peninsula was revealed by Jim Jones, the managing director of North Wales Tourism, who said the region was now a big hit with visitors from the Land of the Rising Sun.

Mr Jones told a meeting of Wrexham Business Professionals at the town’s Ramada Hotel there had been an 84 per cent increase in Japanese visitors in the past two years, with almost 2,400 of them between April and September of this year coming via travel agencies that have not previously had north Wales on their itineraries.

According to Mr Jones, North Wales Tourism has been working closely with the high-powered Japanese Association of Travel Agents (JATA). Earlier this year he took a seven-strong group from JATA on a whistle-stop tour of World Heritage sites and other attractions in north Wales.

Mr Jones said: “Japanese tourists used to bypass north Wales but not anymore. We have worked hard to promote the region and as a result we have seen a sharp rise in the number of Japanese tourists.

“JATA has now selected 20 of the most beautiful roads in Europe and we were thrilled they picked north Wales as one of those routes. They will now be promoting north Wales as The Road of Castles in Wonderland. The route starts in Newtown and comes up through, Chirk, Wrexham and Ruthin, before heading to Conwy and Llandudno and down the Conwy Valley to the Llyn Peninsula and looping to Caernarfon and Anglesey.

“We’re now aiming to target other Asian markets like China, Thailand and the Philippines.

“There is still a lot we need to do and we can’t yet sit on our laurels but there really is a lot to be positive about.

“North Wales has voted as the fourth best place in the world to visit by readers of Lonely Planet brings huge kudos.

“One of the main reasons for the dramatic rise in our fortunes as a tourism destination is that north Wales is at the epicentre of the growing adventure holidays market and is earning recognition as a world leader thanks to developments like Zip World and Surf Snowdonia.”

The other keynote speaker was Chris Nott OBE, the Prince of Wales’ business ambassador for Wales, who gave an inspiring talk on ethical entrepreneurship and responsible business.