'Relocation' gaffe could hit tourism
LONG-TERM damage could be caused to Gower's tourist industry by an "astounding" gaffe in a new online tourist brochure produced by the Assembly Government, a leading figure has warned.
Geoff Haden (pictured), who runs Clyne Farm Centre on the edge of the Gower Peninsula, is one of many businesses which relies on visitors to surf at Langland or Llangennith.
He has been left angered by Visit Wales's new guide Active Wales which inaccurately placed Llangennith, Langland and Rhossili in Pembrokeshire.
Mr Haden has called for a thorough investigation into how the mistake arose.
"I hate to think of how many have gone searching Pembrokeshire for these famous beaches," he said.
"It really is quite astounding, as it is not as if these are small coves that have slipped through the net but some of the most iconic beaches in Western Europe."
A spokesman for the Assembly has apologised for the error.
But Mr Haden said: "Rhossili boasts the finest sunsets in Britain and is among the most photographed spots in the country, with even Doctor Who making an appearance in his Tardis!
"It is demoralising. We have worked hard with Simon Jayham, of the internationally-renowned GSD surf school, over the past five years to develop a hugely popular surfing package. A basic error like this could do long-term damage at a time when we are beginning to rival Cornwall as one of the leading surf teaching areas in the country."
The embarrassing error was flagged up by a constituent of Alun Cairns, Conservative AM for South Wales West.
He said: "This is not the first time that parts of Swansea and West Wales have been relocated. Some may see it as amusing, but in reality it is a very serious issue."
An Assembly spokesman said: "It has now been amended for the next reprint which is due in October."
4 Comments
by ceri thomas, saudi arabia
Sunday, September 07 2008, 11:34AM
“had to look twice at the headline thought it said "girrafe!"”
by Tony Love, Mumbles
Saturday, September 06 2008, 9:04PM
“Sounds like a slow day for news if this is a big story. All it is is a mistake on a website that was corrected. Big deal.”
by Tourism Guy, South Wales, near the Gower
Saturday, September 06 2008, 5:24PM
“These are exactly the kind of stories the press need to report in order to strengthen the Welsh tourist Economy - NOT.
The weather meant that work was quiet today as there werent as many visitors to the area as hoped. The peace however gave me a while to find the mistake, It did take a while as the mistake only seems to occur on page 59 where the book lists webcams. Llangennith is correctly shown on the map on page 6, and the details of the surf school are given correctly on page 57. So whats the problem?
I googled llangennith and there was no mention of llangennith in Pembrokeshire, at least on the 4 pages of results I read, all clearly stating that llangennith is on the Gower.
Visit Wales, although a very QUANGO-esque body as in Conservative days of old, is valuable to the Welsh economy as they do produce literature and have numerous websites of great use to visitors. Ask visitors what they think of Visit Wales info...... theyll tell you... its good....... Everyone must have loved the adverts....for example.......... the mud one, the signs and language one, what else do you want!
Alun Cairns is a conservative and the Conservatives, it must be remembered dont want the assembly to exist (or even Wales for that matter) and take every chance to rubbish anything the assembly does.
Anyway, rant over, lets all try and show an united front whan it comes to advertising Wales and Cairns remember that petty point scoring carried out in the press does nothing to attract anyone to Wales.
By the way if visit Wales wants to employ me the Post have my email!!!!!”
by D.C.Evans., Perth. Western Australia.
Saturday, September 06 2008, 2:30PM
“This is not a gaffe, it is vandalism, caused by idiots who are not locked up in an asylum, but in highly paid jobs and virtually un-sackable.As far as an Assembly
spokesperson is concernedthe best thing would be to give the culprit a map showing the difference between Gower and Pembrokeshire.....Still, it's not as bad as the loonies who left Wales off the map of the U.K.
D.C.Evans.”