Sightseeing boat trips from Aberystwyth beach are set to return this summer, giving the town a huge tourism boost, officials say.

Local boat companies are being encouraged to run day and night-time trips from a soon-to-be-renovated Aberystwyth jetty, years after it was decommissioned after becoming structurally unsafe to receive boats and passengers.

In its heyday, dozens of boats would take passengers on a sight-seeing tour of Aberystwyth and Cardigan Bay from Aberystwyth’s north beach.

Council tourism chiefs, who have appealed for operators to provide new services, say the renovated jetty would attract thousands more visitors each year – taking residents and tourists on sunset trips and daytime voyages.

A council spokesperson said: “A renovation of the wooden jetty on Aberystwyth promenade will make it safe to be used by shallow draft commercial boat operators.

“Boat companies could benefit from the thousands of people who visit the promenade daily during good weather.

“The renovation could offer another attraction for residents and visitors along the popular promenade.

“The jetty will be renovated by Ceredigion County Council after being successful in securing funding from the Coastal Communities Fund to rebuild the jetty after it became badly damaged by marine worms.

“The two-year project aims to rejuvenate pleasure boat trip activity on Aberystwyth seafront.

“It will enable the existing wooden jetty to be brought back into a serviceable condition, suitable for use by sightseeing boat trip operators.”

Any commercial boat companies interested in running boat trips from the jetty in Aberystwyth can contact Gareth Rowlands at [email protected].

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