More than 120 delegates have taken part in The Denbighshire Tourism Forum.
Guest speakers included Lucy von Weber, Head of Marketing at Visit Wales, who talked about the current tourism landscape in Wales and provided an insight into where visitors are coming from.
Gail Swan, Chair of North East Wales Food and Drink Group, gave a presentation outlining the work of the group and what it can offer businesses.
Other speakers included Catrin Roberts, Head of Service at Denbighshire County Council and Cllr Alan James Denbighshire’s lead member for tourism. There were also several information stands including a carriage from Llangollen Railway for participants to browse while they were networking.
The Forum concluded with a lively discussion about the proposed Visitor Levy in Wales led by Catrin Roberts.
While Denbighshire County Council does not yet have a formal position on the proposed Levy, the Forum provided an opportunity to gauge views and reactions from tourism businesses in the county, the council said.
Tourism plays a vital part in Denbighshire’s economy, the council said, with a total economic impact in 2024 of £767 million, up 4.2% on 2023. Visitor numbers are at 6.35 million and continue to be a vital part of Denbighshire's economy, employing over 6,000 full time employees, it added.
Ian Lebbon, Chair of Denbighshire Destination Management Partnership, said:
“Denbighshire is a place of spectacular landscapes, rich heritage, vibrant communities, and warm hospitality — it has so much to offer visitors today and into the future. Revenue from tourism is also a large part of Denbighshire’s economic growth and it was good to have conversations which will help shape the future of tourism in Denbighshire.”
Closing the forum, Councillor Alan James, Lead Member for Local Development and Planning who has overall responsibility for tourism, said:
“I want to thank everyone who attended for their energy, insight, and passion for the future of tourism in Denbighshire. The conversations and connections we had and the ideas we shared will help shape the future of tourism our county.
“Let us leave here inspired with ideas to grow into real actions that bring sustainable growth, deeper visitor engagement, and joy to both locals and guests.”
