The Dyfi Valley Rural
Tourism Growth Area
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The Dyfi Valley Rural
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Site Map | The Dyfi Valley | Map | Join us | Glossary | Useful links | Contact us | Have your say | Search | News | Events |
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Become a member of ecodyfi We want everybody in the Valley to join, so it only costs £1. Drop into Ty Bro Dyfi or send some stamps. The information centre is open Monday to Friday between 10.00 and 3.00. You might even like to get involved in staffing it or in helping to run a project. Please come and see us!
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What is the Dyfi Valley Rural Tourism Growth Area (TGA)?It's part of a geographical development initiative designed by the Wales Tourist Board (WTB) to stimulate tourism investment in various parts of Wales. The initiative ensures that WTB capital funding, for physical developments and improvements, is reserved for this area - although this will have to be matched by at least 50% of private funding/lending and/or other grants. The Dyfi Valley TGA has a specific theme of sustainability and so the initiative is also a commitment to the development of tourism that is culturally, economically and environmentally sustainable. What are its aims?The TGA steering group (who direct the initiative locally) have produced the following vision for tourism in the Dyfi Valley: 'To develop a dynamic and competitive tourism industry in the Dyfi Valley in a sustainable manner which builds on its strengths and fulfils its potential for the mutual benefit of local people, the economy, the environment and the area£s cultural heritage and enables it to become the premier UK "green tourism destination". In practical terms, the TGA aims are to help those involved in tourism secure some of the funding needed to launch and develop projects that fit this vision. How did it come about?The TGAs were proposed in order to stimulate growth in the tourism markets targeted by the WTB and their industry and public sector partners. Ecodyfi and the Aberdyfi Partnership were successful in a combined bid for TGA recognition and, in order to provide a strategic context for subsequent tourism development, the WTB, Tourism Partnership - Mid Wales, Powys County Council, Cyngor Gwynedd, the Welsh Development Agency and Cymad commissioned Ian Parkin, Heritage and Tourism Consultant, to produce a detailed draft report. The TGA steering group now has a summarised version of the document, available to individuals and businesses throughout the area. Where is the TGA? While ecodyfi covers the whole of the Dyfi Valley, the study specifically excluded the area within Ceredigion and also Tywyn and the Dysynni Valley. However, any potential projects outside the TGA area, including joint initiatives, can generate funding through the regular Wales Tourist Board (Section 4) grant programme, Meirionnydd Coastal Towns Initiative and the Objective 1 programme, and the Ceredigion Special Tourism Growth Area Initiative covers the Ceredigion area of the valley. Who is involved?Teresa Walters, as TGA Project Officer, is the first line of contact for potential applicants. She is managed by Andy Rowland, ecodyfi Manager, and works alongside an 'Officer Group' from the County Councils, WTB, WDA and other statutory bodies. Direction comes from a steering group in which tourism business interests are represented and from Tourism Partnership - Mid Wales. Decisions about funding are made centrally by the Wales Tourist Board. The costs of running the project are met by the Wales Tourist Board and by Gwynedd and Powys County Councils. If you would like details about the initiative, advice on making a grant application, or a copy of the summarised action plan [Word doc, 100kB], please phone Teresa on 01970 871620 or email teresa.walters@ecodyfi.org.uk. |
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