‘Homecoming’ year planned for people of Welsh ancestry
PEOPLE of Welsh heritage will be urged to return “home” under Plaid Cymru plans for a year-long “homecoming” event if the party wins May’s Assembly elections.
Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones, who unveiled the proposals yesterday, said the Homecoming Year for Wales, which would be held throughout 2015, would be based on a similar festival held in Scotland two years ago.
That campaign, organised by EventScotland and VisitScotland on behalf of the Scottish government, was a series of events designed to attract people of Scottish ancestry to visit Scotland.
It came in for criticism, however, as it emerged 87% of those who attended the celebrations lived in Scotland, and barely 3% travelled from abroad as a direct result of the festivities.
In addition, overall visitor levels to Scotland were down 2.7% and the centrepiece event, Scotland’s largest clan gathering, was hit by political and financial scandal.
But Mr Jones yesterday said Plaid’s proposed 2015 event – it will be in their manifesto – would promote Wales as a destination for tourism and culture and would have major economic benefits for a range of industries in Wales.
The project would be organised between the Assembly Government’s Major Events Unit and VisitWales, with Plaid Cymru proposing to link together Wales’ tourist events as part of an overall promotion, the Heritage Minister said.
Further activity would be undertaken in promoting specialist events under a “Homecoming Wales” banner, including a greater focus on St David’s Day and Glyndr Day.
“We would aim for an increase in the number of visitors to Wales and visitors who are returnees to Wales, and that of course would give a boost to the hotel and general accommodation sector,” said Mr Jones.
“We would also hope that it would provide a boost to the whole area of events in Wales, be it eisteddfodau, shows, music festivals, local or national events.
“Of course, it would create connections the length and breadth of the world, hopefully, in attracting some of the Welsh diaspora back to Wales, either for the first time or on a return visit.
“The reason why we’ve said 2015 is we think this type of thing needs a lot of preparation. We need to prepare in order to link in with all these events.
“I think the fact that the Major Events Unit has been established now with a sensible budget, and a competitive budget, will give us a chance to make the most of this opportunity.”
Homecoming Scotland 2009 was launched by Alex Salmond’s SNP government in Edinburgh. It started on January 25 (Burns Night) and ran until November 30 (St Andrews Day). Internationally-renowned events such as the Edinburgh Festival, the Heineken Cup, the Highland Games and the Edinburgh Military Tattoo were brought under its banner.
But an independent report commissioned by opposition MSPs refuted claims made by tourism bosses that the festivities generated £53.5m and created 1,536 full-time jobs.
Mr Jones pointed to the success of the Ryder Cup at Newport’s Celtic Manor Resort last autumn as proof that Wales could succeed on an international stage.
“I think it was undoubtedly a success in terms of projecting the name of Wales, the image of Wales, abroad, especially in America and in other countries where golf is big business,” he said.
In the event of Plaid being elected, the Assembly Government would look to bring in more major events as well as bringing current events, such as the National Eisteddfod, under the homecoming banner.
“Obviously the Major Events Unit is currently in discussion with all bodies, within and outside of Wales, and, depending on the outcome of those discussions, other events could become part of the festivities and the attractions,” said Mr Jones.
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