It includes glamping pods in Carmarthenshire and digital water quality signs at Barry Island
Digital water quality signs are to be put up at Barry Island, somewhere water quality has been a concern(Image: WalesOnline/ Rob Browne)
Tourism hotspots across Wales are to share £5m of funding including digital water quality signs at Barry Island, glamping pods in Carmarthenshire and a 6ft ‘Wrexham‘ sign.
The £5m “brilliant basics” fund from Welsh Government supports schemes that deliver improvements to essential visitor infrastructure, it can mean improving things like toilets or signs. Priority in this round of funding has been directed at alleviating pressures at tourism ‘hot spots’, promoting environmentally sustainable destinations, enhancing accessibility, and improving the overall visitor experience.
The full list of places getting funding in the 2025-26 and 2026-27 financial years:
- Sustainable Powys: Visitor based infrastructure improvements at key towns in Powys including signage, interpretation and walking trails
- Pembrey Country Park, Carmarthenshire: The purchase of equipment and infrastructure including new glamping pods and weather proofed events infrastructure.
- “Swansea Motorhome Aires”: Campervan parking facilities at six locations across Swansea and the Gower
- Campervan parking facilities across Denbighshire through Motorhome/Campervan Aire Provision
- New changing facilities, beach wheelchairs and water quality digital displays on Barry Island
- The establishment of a visitor Discovery Centre at Betws y Coed
- Refurbishment of public visitor toilets & wash rooms at Trevor Basin (Pontcysyllte aqueduct and canal World Heritage site main arrival point) and refurbishment of toilet facilities and the addition of a new disabled changing places toilet along with digital signs
- Visitor infrastructure, carbon reduction and wayfinding improvements at the Gilfach Ddu site within Parc Padarn Country Park, Llanberis For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
- Visitor infrastructure at the Linda Vista Gardens in Abergavenny
- Improvements to toilets and changing facilities at Porth Eirias, Colwyn Bay Waterfront including improved facilities for disabled users
- The restoration of a scenic ‘viewing platform’ in Llandudno with improved accessibility
- Improvements at key beaches in Gwynedd with a particular focus on Morfa Bychan and Pwllheli
- Substantial improvements to the visitor experience at Carew Tidal Mill and Castell Henllys visitor attractions
- The provision of a new high ropes course at the Gower Activity Centre, Port Eynon
- Key improvements to the walking trail to Sgwd Gwladys
- Signs in Wrexham including a new 6ft Wrexham/Wrecsam gateway sign
- Improvements to the visitor parking facilities at Traeth Mawr, Trefdraeth/Newport, Pembrokeshire
- Improvements to Cyfarthfa Castle Museum and Art Gallery and the Castle Park
- Arrival improvements at Margam Country Park
- Improvements to car and coach parking facilities and addition of EV chargers and Cwm Clydach Country Park, Rhondda Cynon Taf
- Toilet and parking improvements at key visitor honey pot sites in Eryri National Park
- New interpretation and signage at key sites within the Flintshire Coast Park
- A project to transform the visitor centre at the WWT Llanelli Wetland Centre to address accessibility issues
- Refurbishment of toilet facilities at Cosmeston and Porthkerry Country Parks to include environmental improvements and improved facilities for disabled users
Wales’ minister with responsibility for tourism, Rebecca Evans, said: “”I am delighted to announce this significant investment in tourism infrastructure as Visit Wales’ latest campaign – ‘Year of Croeso’ – continues to share our warm ‘croeso’ and unique ‘hwyl’ with the world.
“Tourism is a vital part of the Welsh economy, but we recognise that increased visitor numbers can sometimes put pressure on local infrastructure, particularly in popular destinations. This funding will help address these challenges while supporting our commitment to sustainable, inclusive tourism.
“By investing in these basic but essential facilities, we are not only enhancing the visitor experience but also supporting local communities and protecting our natural environment for generations to come.”