Cardiff is situated in south east Wales. It is a costal city and it is the capital of the country. The city itself covers an area of 2.6sq miles. It has a population of 324,800.
Accessibility
There are a few ways to get to Cardiff. As you can see on the map the M4 motorway (Blue) goes directly into Cardiff, to use the M4 motorway you have to cross the Severn Bridge. To cross the bridge into Wales you must pay a fee for maintenance. The price of this fee depends on what vehicle you are travelling in; for a car up to nine seats the price is £5.50 ,and the price for a lorry or other goods vehicle is £16.40 the people most likely to travel to Cardiff by road are goods vehicles, families and some business people who are attending meetings. There are also good rail links to Cardiff from most towns in the UK the prices are varying but the price from London is £27.50 the people most likely to use a train are business people who are travelling to visit trade fairs, conferences or business meetings. A normal train journey from London to Cardiff will be around 2-3 hours. Cardiff also has an airport that is situated a 30minuites drive away. It is actually in Barry but is named Cardiff international airport. The type of people to use the airport will be families going away or coming back from a holiday and also business people from abroad; they may be tourists or they may be foreign business people. There is a train station at the airport and there is a bus to take you from the station to the airport.
Climate
The climate in Cardiff is extremely unpredictable; winters are wet with few dry days and some snow. The summers are generally dry and warm with plenty of sunshine. The spring is one of the most popular times to travel to Cardiff with the flowers in bloom and it is very pretty. However it can also be wet in the spring with the average temperature ranges from 3oCin the winter to 25oC in the summer. Although the weather is unpredictable in Cardiff it only seems to be the outdoor activities that suffer in the cold and wet of the winter.
There are many different attractions in Cardiff; there is something to do for everyone to do in Cardiff weather you like sport, art and culture or history is you thing here are just as few things that you can do:
There are many different attractions in Cardiff the most famous probably being the millennium stadium. The stadium has the capacity to hold 73,434 supporters. The total cost of construction was £121 million. The stadium holds many different events including sports, music, races and others. It is situated on the river Taff. The average fee for a ticket to see a rugby game in the stadium is £25-70 for an international game up to £200 for something like the world cup. The stadium was opened in 1999 for the start of the new century and the new millennia hence the name millennium stadium. Although this iconic building is associated with, rugby it is also used to hold events such as gigs. A variety of music artists have performed at the stadium and they include people such as Madonna, U2 and Robbie Williams. Although the normal filming of the stadium is for rugby matches it has also been seen in programmes such as “Doctor Who” and the film “28 weeks later”. In the 2005 episode of “Doctor Who” called “Dalek” the underground areas of the millennium stadium were used to film a scene set in an underground base in Utah USA. In 28 weeks later it was used the millennium stadium to make a scene inside Wembley stadium near.
Another stadium in Cardiff is the Cardiff Arms Park RFC. The history starts in 1881/1882 when the first stands were built for the spectators to watch the game. Until the end of 2008-2009 it was home to both the Cardiff blues rugby union team and the Cardiff blues rugby team until the Blues moved to the Cardiff City Stadium.
Another sporting attraction in Cardiff is Cardiff International Sports Stadium. The stadium was supposed to be completed by May 2008 but the date was put back to September 2008. The stadium includes a gym, offices and meeting rooms. Currently the field is used by the local football teams. It cost £5.7 million to build the stadium and it took 46 weeks to build.
There is an international pool in Cardiff which includes a 50m Olimpic size pool, spectator seating for 1000 people, A leisure pool, Flumes, the lazy river, a 110 station gym, A health suite, a Café and bar, a crèche and a free car park. You can do more activities in the centre like dancing and yoga.
The Cardiff Yatch Club is a boating club in Cardiff Bay. They are a voluntary organization and their aim is to make all forms of boating affordable to local people in Cardiff bay. They also wish their members and visitors to be able to participate in any activity that suits them.
However, sport is not everyone’s thing if not there are many historical buildings for you to discover.
The main historical building in Cardiff is Cardiff castle. The castle is located a small way off from Adam St. it is accessible by train and also by the aqua bus as the castle is a short walk from the aqua bus stop. The castle is the original castle ruins and the newer part of the castle. The two parts of the castle that we can see today arte not the only parts that were built the oldest part of the castle the roman fort is no longer there but the Norman part and the Victorian mansion(above) are still remaining today. The Victorian part has running tours and is undergoing restoration work in many parts. You can also go and see the Norman fort on the hill inside the castle which was built in the 12th century. The admission fee for an adult to get into the caste is £10.50 for a child the admission fee is £7.95 however if you also want to take the tour the price for an adult is £13.50 and a child is £10. As well as day use you may book a traditional welsh banquet which is subject to availability as well as hire out the castle for private functions. attraction will appeal to families with older children looking for a day out in Cardiff.
There is also the national museum of Cardiff it houses things of significant importance to Wales and also has a variety of items on show from all around the world. Its situated in the middle of Cardiff’s civic centre and is just a 20 minute walk away from Cardiff central train station. As well as housing many welsh artifacts paintings from some of Europe’s top artists are shown here as well as history from the dinosaurs through to space travel and the big bang theory. The admission to the museum is free and anyone can go to it. The opening times are from 10.00-5.00 Tuesdays to Sundays. This may appeal to families and also to people who like history and culture.
The other main historical attraction in Cardiff is Llandaff Cathedral. The oldest part of the cathedral was built in the 12th Century. It was expanded in the 16th century but the decline of the wealth of the church alongside weathering let the cathedral fall into near disrepair until its restoration at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century. The cathedral still holds religious services throughout the week. The cathedral would attract people interested in the local history and religious people who want to go the cathedral to take part in a service.
Cardiff Bay is one of the most popular destinations in Cardiff. It is the former docks until the regeneration work and it has been drastically changed into one of Europe’s largest waterfronts. It has many kinds of features including a freshwater lake and a barricade to stop the sea and lake leaking into each other. There are a number of places in which you can eat and drink including child friendly places. This truly is an attraction that will appeal to all.
As well as the old there is the new to visit in Cardiff. The main attraction for this is Techniquest. This museum is one of Britain’s leading science discovery centres and has over 120 items on display. The museum will amaze adults and children alike and make anyone who visits want to go back again and again. Some features include the planetarium; it is a 30 seat stadium that enables people to discover the stars and take tours around the solar system. There is also a science theatre that has got changing shows on different days. The Techniquest museum would appeal to families and to school groups.
As well as attractions, Cardiff is home to the Saint. David’s shopping centre this is located just off north road. It has over 100 stores and includes car parks and wheelchair access. Some of the stores include Debenhams Next and John Lewis anyone can go to John Lewis because of the diverse range of products to suit all ages that they have on offer. It is estimated that in the financial Christmas of 2010 the centre turned over, atleast £30 million.
Another shopping centre in Cardiff is Capitol it is located near Cardiff castle. It has over 415 stores and includes its own car parks and wheelchair access also. Some of the stores inside are Boots and Sparkle box. People who would go to Sparklebox may be young engaged couples as it is a jewellery shop. The people who would use boots would be women as it is a cosmetics and beauty store.
There are many entertainment facilities in Cardiff with something for everyone.
One of the main entertainment centres in Cardiff is the red dragon centre located in Cardiff bay. It features an Odeon cinema, 24 hour casino, 26 lane bowling alley and a number of restaurants. Regular activities and many events are held at the red dragon centre, these range from craft fairs to family activities. You can always be sure that there is something to suit everyone at this attraction.The people who would use the red dragon centre would be a vast range of people because there is something to appeal to most people as it has facilities to accommodate all types of people. The Doctor Who expedition is also in the dragon centre. It is open from 10am to 6pm daily. It features many artefacts including monsters from the latest series and costumes. There is also a shop where one can buy props from the show including sonic screwdriver and the ood ball. Anyone who enjoys Doctor Who will love this attraction as well as children who will love to see the display of creatures that this attraction has to offer.
The Wales Millennium Centre is the home of the performing arts in Wales including the Welsh National Opera and many other companies beside. It is situated in the Cardiff Bay area of the city and covers a total area of 4.7 acres of ground the centre was opened by the Queen in November of 2004 and has hosted many shows and performances since from opera and ballet to West End productions like Mama Mia. The centre is made up of one main theatre which is named the Donald Gordon Theatre and has a capacity of 1,897, to the BBC Hoddinnot Hall and the Western Studio which have a capacity of 250 and 350 people respectively. The admission fees vary and are subject to availability so book online before you go so as not to be disappointed. There is also a guided tour of the building which is priced at £5 a person. The attraction has already attracted millions of tourists and will continue to do so as the variety continues this is an attraction for everyone.
Nightlife in Cardiff is larger than ever before and still growing. The main nightlife scene can be found on St. Marys street and is mainly used on Saturdays. It is therefore cheaper during the week when most university students will use the facilities. The target market is 18-25 year olds as this is the age of most university students. One of the nightclubs 411 Bar & nightclub is a swanky club located on St. Mary street. It offers a relaxed and friendly atmosphere where excellent music can be heard and they offer exceptional service. It aims to attract a mature and stylish crowd.
.
There is a large range of accommodation in Cardiff Ranging from the YHA hostel to the Marriott and Hilton Hotels. A double room in the YHA Cardiff will cost £13 per room a night and would appeal to students or young people who are visiting Cardiff for a short break. However if it was a businessperson or a couple in their 30’s then they may be more interested in a holiday inn. The Holiday inn is slightly more expensive a double room being £88 per room a night. It would be good for business people because it features internet access and conference facilities. If an older couple or a professional (e.g. a doctor) on a higher income may want to stay in Cardiff then they may want to stay in the Marriot because they have the extra cash to spend on going. The Marriott would cost £105 to £200.
The YHA Hostel in Cardiff is on eastern avenue and is near the city centre. It would be good for young people because they would want to go to the city centre in the day and if they were clubbing in the night they would not want to have to have a long way to go to get back to their accommodation.
There are two holiday inns in Cardiff one is in the city centre near the millennium stadium the other is in Cardiff Bay. The one in the city centre would be ideal for a businessperson because it is near where their appointments are most likely to be and also near all the restaurants for if they need to take their clients for a meal.
The Marriot is located in the city centre near the castle and would be ideal for older couples because it has enough activities within the hotel so that they will be able to stay in the hotel during the day if they do not want to go to the city. It is however located within walking distance of the city centre and most of the attractions in Cardiff.
Cardiff caravan park is situated on the Potcanna fields. It is in 300 acres of land and is open every day of the year. This is a perfect place for families as it is secluded from the busy streets of Cardiff however it is not difficult to travel to all the attractions that Cardiff has to offer.
The last accommodation type in Cardiff is staying with either relatives or family in their homes. This is generally located outside of the city centre and is used by anyone who has friends or relatives in Cardiff.
Cardiff is a large city but even though it is a large city the majority of attractions are only a few minutes walking distance between each other. One of the furthest attractions from the city centre is the Bay which is a kilometre away.
The bus system in Cardiff is quite large and runs in mainly an anti-clockwise direction with many of the services stopping near the area around St. Davids. The price is unified and it costs £1.50 to go anywhere in the city for an adult and £1 for a child. The return fees are twice as much with adults paying £3 and children £2. This transport option will suit the older travellers more as it saves them from walking and means that they can be dropped off and picked up in a destination with more ease. Many tourists like to sightsee in Cardiff and if they do Cardiff has the perfect answer it is the Aqua Bus, it is a water bus and operates on the River Taff it can carry up to 100 passengers and operates hourly from Cardiff Bay to stops all the way out to Penarth. The tickets cost £2.50 for an adult single and £5 for a return. For children the single ticket rate is £1.50 and the return rate is £3. It is a nice way to travel on the river and will allow you to see many of the attractions in Cardiff.
There are many festivals and events in Cardiff and one of the most popular of these is the International Food and Drink Festival. It takes place on the waterfront in Cardiff and is a promotion event for many of Wales’ finest cuisine as well as food from around the world including Germany, France and South Africa. Visitors will enjoy a variety of smells sights and tastes. There is also a variety of music and entertainment to enjoy and the next festival is held in July of 2011.
Food and drink is an important part of any countrya and can sometimes make up the national identity of a person. Welsh food tends to include a lot of fish and lamb as there is plenty of this food source here. The breakfast is a big part of Wales and tends to consist of bacon, egg, sausage, bread and cockles all on the same plate. The national dish of Wales is Cawl. This stew is made from lamb leeks potato and many other vegetables. The most important parts of this dish are the leeks, which are the national vegetable of Wales. Desserts in Wales tend to be more of a heavy food than those in other countries around the world. The main ingredients in many puddings in wales are honey, fruits and chocolate. Perhaps one of the most famous welsh puddings is the Welsh cake. This is a cake like flat disc with currants in and is traditionally cooked on a bakestone. They are often served with butter.
Beer is the main traditional drink in Wales and there are a number available in the majority of taverns inns and pubs. There are 20 places of produce in wales with the larger partm of them being made in the 70’s. Perhaps the oldest beer maker in wales are SA Brains who have existed since the later part of the 19th century in 1882. Tea is the other large drink in Wales with it being served in most places that you go. The main company for tea production in Wales is the Pembrokeshire tea company which only make tea with those grown in Wales. This type of food will appeal greatly to people who are interested in culture and immersing themselves in local life.
Barcelona Fact file
Barcelona is a city in Spain and is the capital of Catalonia. In this fact file, I will include the following sections:-
- The location and its accessibility by the major forms of transport.
- Climate and climatic characteristics relating to tourists activities.
- Significant Attractions that are both purpose built and natural.
- Heritage sites and museums in Barcelona.
- Sporting facilities, stadiums and events held in Barcelona.
- Entertainment, the nightlife and the shopping opportunities.
- The ways of commuting around the city.
- The culture and cultural events, art, theatres and festivals in Cardiff is
- Traditional foods and drinks.
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain and has a population of 1,621,500 people within the city limits. It is Europe largest coastal metropolitan city. It has recognition as a city of importance worldwide because of its involvement in finance, commerce, media, entertainment, art, international trade and tourism opportunities. It is located in North-Eastern Spain. The tourist area of the city is located mainly on the Eastern side of the city near the beach and Parc de MontjuÏc.
Traveling to Barcelona By Air
You can get to Barcelona through many forms of transport. The easiest way to travel is by air. The airport in Barcelona is called El Prat de Llobregat. The airport is situated Eight Miles out of the city centre and consists of three terminals for different purposes. There are over 30 direct air links to Barcelona and the airport handles over 16 million tourists each year (1998). To supply the demand for the city a third runway and more terminals were planned in 2004. The terminals (a, b, c) were made into 1 terminal T2 and a new terminal T1. There is also an additional runway and plans for a third terminal that is designed by Ricardo Bofill as well as a control tower. The majority of International flights land or take off from T2a but the National airline Iberia is generally operated from T2b. The airport offers many services including a bureaux de change. There are also car hire services from many companies including Avis and Hertz. As well as car hire service, you will find tourist information desks and duty free shopping including restaurants shops and bars. The people who would fly to Barcelona would mainly be Business people who need to work while they are travelling. In addition, inbound and outbound tourists would fly to travel.
Getting to Barcelona by road
In Spain “Autopistas” or Motorways are shown by the letter “A” the speed limit is shown in kilometres and is 120kph 74(mph). The smaller “Autovia” or highways and other major roads are shown by two roman numerals “II” or 3 digits “123” the speed limit on these roads is 100kph(62mph) . Many motorways in Spain have a toll, these are shown at tollbooths and payments need to be made directly in cash although some major credit cards are accepted. Traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road and no one under the age of 18 can ride a vehicle over 75cc. It is also compulsory for front seat passengers to wear seatbelts. The main users of the road system in Barcelona would be families and residents of Barcelona asw well as tourists from Spain.
Getting to Barcelona by Rail
RENFE is the company that operates all of Spain’s railways that radiate from the capital of Madrid to all of the major cities. There are also links running along the French-Spanish border and the Mediterranean coast. Spanish trains are generally punctual and low costing. However if you need a speedy journey then the ones to avoid are “Tranvia”, “Samidirecto” and “Correo” as they are often slow moving. To travel intercity, you must have a reserved seat to travel. The main train station in Barcelona is “Estació Central-Sants Placa deles Paises Catalans”. Facilities in the station include “Tourist Information, Hotel Information and a bank, restaurants, Cafes and secure parking. The train will appeal to business mewn and women as they will be able to work at the same time as travelling.
Getting to Barcelona by Sea
Autoritat de Barcelona runs the Port de Barcelona. It is re-establishing its prominence within Europe as one of the largest cruise centres being second to Athens. It is also an important Cargo destination. There are many companies offering ferries to a variety of destinations including Ibiza, Menorca, Palma and Mahon. These ferries depart daily during the summer however, in the winter they are less frequently so you will need to check before you depart. You can buy tickets at Estacio Maritima de Baleares near Muelle de Barcelona this is also where the ferries depart from.
Transport within Barcelona
Taxis in Barcelona are plentiful with 11,000 yellow and black registered taxis. As well as hailing taxis, you can pre-book them. The base rate is Pta92-107 and the drivers should be tipped 5-10% of the final fare.
Limousines
A few companies in Barcelona offer limousines. These companies start charges from Pta40000 for 8 hours hire.
Driving in the city
Because of the proximity of all the visitor attractions in Barcelona, it is unlikely that you will need to hire a car, as public transport should suffice. The advantage of this is that you will not need to face the rush hour, which is particularly bad in Barcelona.
Bicycle hire
Although you can cycle in Barcelona, there are few bicycle lanes or racks. However, bicycles can be taken onto public transport with a few peak hour restrictions.
Climate within Barcelona
Barcelona has a climate to match all other Mediterranean destinations. The summers in Barcelona are very warm with little rain and th e winters are very mild with slight humidity. It is warmest during the end of July and through August with the average temperature being 27oC. It is coldest during January with temperatures at around 10oC. It rains for on average 78 days with more than 0.1mm of rain. Most months see about 7 days of this amount of rain.
There are different districts in Barcelona and each show off a different aspect of the city. Many people start at La Rambla, which is the main section of the old city and the shopping district of the new city. There are many other attractions in Barcelona. If you want to go to the attractions you can get a pass
The Magic fountain of Montjuic was first opened in 1929, the designer was Charles Buigas and many people thought that it would not be completed in time for its unveiling at the Great Universal Exhibition. It took over 3000 people and a year to build but it was completed in time for the unveiling. This is a must see for everyone who is visiting Barcelona and suitable for all.
L'Aquarium de Barcelona is situated in the port of Barcelona. It offers a variety of marine life and is great for kids who love to see the vast variety of animals on display. It was opened in 1995 and it has 11,000 animals. This attraction is great for families with children under the age of 12.
Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia is an unfinished masterpiece of Gaudi’s and one of the city’s most outlandish buildings. The building work continues and the construction has cries of awe, astonishment, amusement and anger from visitors and tourists alike. However, it remains one of the city’s most visited attractions.
Casa Mila is also named “La Pedra” the stone quarry in English. The building was inspired by the sea and there are no square corners to be seen. The roof has sentry-like chimneys and offers an excellent view of the city. Significant Natural attractions
Barcelona has something for everyone whether you are interested in culture, want a rush of adrenaline or whether you prefer to be a “beach bum”.
For those who like the countryside then you must see the mountain of The mountain, acts as a backdrop for most of the city and is home to many exotic garden as well as the Greek theatres several of Barcelona’s most prestigious museums and sculpturesand one of the most famous the Olympic stadium. At the summit is the castle of Montjuich, one of the old watchtowers from the late 17th and early 18th century’s. However, the most popular attraction of the mountains is its Magic Fountains. This is a wonder of lights, water, and music mixed to make an incredible show. It was constructed for the 1929 Universal Exposition. Today, hundreds of visitors view the fountains’ shows each weekend. The show also features a spectacular view of the National Palace in the background.
There are numerous beaches in Barcelona but probably the busiest is Barceloneta Beach during peak season, which runs from June to September. It is also the closest beach to the city centre just a 15 minute walk away from La Rambla. It has been voted the best urban beach in the world and the third best beach in the worlad as well.
If however you are wanting a relaxing day out or a quieter beach then St. Sebastia Beach is for you. It is an isolated stretch of land and populasr with people who want privacy and calm. It is however the land that is going to be used for the Bofill Hotel complex one completed so if you are going on repeat visits to Barcelona you may want to find a beach outside of the city.
Significant Purpose Built Attractions
The Magic fountain of Montjuic was first opened in 1929, the designer was Charles Buigas and many people thought that it would not be completed in time for its unveiling at the Great Universal Exhibition. It took over 3000 people and a year to build and was completed in time for the unveiling. It is a display of water aerobics light and colour and is a spectacle to see. It is run Thursday to Sunday in peak times and the rest of the year it is shown every Friday and Saturday. This is a must see for everyone who is visiting Barcelona and suitable for all.
L'Aquarium de Barcelona is situated in the port of Barcelona. It was opened on the 8th of September 1995 and is a very popular attraction with 1.4 million visits each year. It offers a variety of marine life and is great for kids who love to see the vast variety of animals on display It has 35 tanks with a total of 11000 animals covering 450 species. The fee to enter this amazing attraction is just 11.50euros and to swim with sharks you can pay an additional fee.
La Rambla is the number one street in Barcelona for shopaholics and it is also the most famous. It is popular with locals and tourists alike. It connects Placa de Caraluntya with the Monument a Colom that was built for Christoffel Columbus after discovering America. There is a road on either side of a pavement and by the outer edge of the roads is lined with trees. There are a number of things to see on la Rambla whether you like flower stalls shopping or even if you just want to experience the culture of this wonderful city. There are also street artists who’s work you may want to admire. If one thing is certain this street is for all people of all ages but you must be very careful with small children as it is so busy and they may easily get lost.
Camp Nou This is an imposing building and is home to Barcelona Football Club. Barcelona FC are one of the most successful football teams in the world, as a result `. All of the home games attract large crowds to the fortress that is their home. This creates a wonderful atmosphere and makes for a great visit for sporting fans. If you cannot go to one of the games you should consider a tour of the stadium to experience the legendary feel of the historic stadium which has played host to a number of high profile moments over the years.
Real Club De Tennis - This stadium is located in the northwest of the city. Every year the club plays host to the Spanish part of the ATP tour, during which the top names in world tennis can be seen in action. There are 18 clay courts and the main court can hold up to 7,200 fans. This is the largest tennis arena in the country and is a treat for any tennis fan, and indeed any sports fans.
A family of five visiting Barcelona for two weeks with children aged 7, 12 and 14. The 7 year old is disabled.
The family have to consider that the 7 year old is disabled and they have two other young children as well. The best route of transport for them would be to go on a plane to Barcelona and then rent a wheelchair compatible car whilst out there. If they wanted to because they have children they could drive to Barcelona and stop off in Paris for a day whilst on the way. The price of the euro tunnel will be £262.00 and would take you from Folkestone to Calais. When you get off the train you can go to Paris and stay for a day. It would take seven hours to get from Bristol to Paris. The petrol to get to Paris will cost roughly £80. This is worked out by the fact that if a car does an average of 30miles to the gallon and Paris is 414.3miles away then 414.3/30=13.81gallons. A gallon is 4.5 litres and for petrol costs £5.85 a gallon. If they were in a Diesel car then it would cost £5.94 a gallon on average. Therefore 13.81x5.85=£80.78 to get to Paris on Conventional petrol. If you used diesel however it would be 13.81*5.94=£82.03 to get to Paris. To get to Barcelona from Paris is £125.65 in a petrol car however if they have a diesel car it will cost £127.59. Then if they go on day excursions then it will cost them around £50 extra for petrol. So for the full price of the trip it will be between £256.43 and £259.62. The full cost of Travelling will be between £518.43 and £521.62. The hotel will cost roughly £150 a night.
Three Backpackers from Bristol starting a three month adventure across Europe the first stop is Barcelona.
The best way for them to get to Barcelona is to go by train as it will be quicker than most forms of transport yet still be affordable. Once in Barcelona they could stay in a hostel. The first thing that they need to do is to go to thetrainline.co.uk and get a train from Bristol to Paris to do this you would want to choose an off-peak train so that it is the cheapest that you can get it. The price of this train will be £147.00. The journey will take 5hours and 16 minuets and will arrive at 20.47 local time. There is one change on this train at London Paddington and this train is changing over at 16.14. There will be a chance to have food on the train and they will be able to rest as their stop is last. They will have to take the 13.30 train from Bristol so that they get to Paris in time to catch a train to Barcelona. The train top Barcelona is at 20.41 local time so they will have to wait for roughly an hour in Paris. The cost of going from Paris to Barcelona is £192.00 The full price of the train is £339 so £113 each.
The other option that they can take is to get a plane from London Luton to Barcelona. This flight would leave London at 07.55GMT and arrive in Barcelona 11.05GMT+1. The cost of the flight would be 25.99 a person and so is considerably cheaper than getting a train. As this is the case it would be better for the backpackers to get a plane as it means that they have more time to enjoy Barcelona.
A hen party (10 women aged between 25 and 35) from Cardiff to Barcelona for 3 nights.
They would have to get a plane, as there is no other way that they would get there fast enough. They could fly from East Midlands, as it is a quieter airport than London and so will be easier to navigate about. They will want to use a cheap flight because the wedding will cost allot of money. The cost of the flight will be £100.99. They will not need much transport when they are in Barcelona however they may want a Limousine to take them from the airport to the hotel and then out to the town in the night. The Limousine will cost 120 Euros to take them from the Airport to the hotel and then they will need to get a quote for the evening but it will probably cost around 80Euros.
Lampeter Football club (Under 14 team) going to Barcelona for a 14 day visit.
As this is a trip involving, young people the supervisors need to keep them safe and so the best way to go is in a privately hired bus so that everyone is together and no one can get lost. Also taking a bus they could leave at any time they wanted to as they do not have a deadline to catch a plane and then they would also be able to stop whenever they needed to and as often as they wanted to.
The Table opposite shows the expenditure on different types of business in Cardiff. It covers all main types of income for the city. As we can see from the graph it shows that all areas rose with Transport rising by the highest at an 11% increase. Accommodation rose by the least amount rising by 3%. The total amount of income into Cardiff’s businesses rose from £646.64 million to £703.59 million. The trend in this instance has been to spend more money while you are in Cardiff. The increase in Accommodation is significantly lower than the other increases this can be a result of two things. The first is that Cardiffs receiving more day visitors that are just staying in the day and going home again in the evening. The second reason for this may be that more people are visiting friends and relatives. As we can see in the Table below it is more likely to be day visitors who are increasing the revenue of Cardiff. This has risen the most at 14% increase from 11,511600 in 2008 to 13,110300 in 2009. However people staying in Non-serviced accommodation have fallen by 3% from 71.5 thousand in 2008 to 69.4 thousand. The total visitors to Cardiff rose by 13% from13004000 in 2008 to 14,662800 in 2009. The new trend is to go to Cardiff for the day and then go home again. This has one main cause and that is the recession. This is because people may be on a lower wage packet or be spending more on day-to-day living so do not have as much money to spend on holidays. The other reason could be that people are taking the chance to get the cheap flights that are available to many European destinations for example Barcelona as it can cost as little as £60 for a return flight. As demand for Cardiff’s services has risen more jobs have had to be created to satisfy their needs as the graph below shows. Transport was the highest increase in revenue which indicates that there were more customers using the service. To accomodate this change the businesses have had to create jobs so that
there are enough people to satisfy the surge in customers. As we can see all sectors increased their employees by at least 7%. The total increase was 9% through Cardiff from 10,224 in 2008 to 11,179 in 2009. These figures are only for the full time employed and so a greater number could be in part time employment this is a good thing for the city as it shows that it is becoming independent and they will have less money going out through income support etc.
Here we can see who money is spent by and when. As we can see the main customers are Day visitors and serviced accommodation. The trend with day visitors is to spend more in September to November but still spend in the other months. This may be explained by the fact that more of the attractions are open in the summer and so they decide to go then but because they can still visit attractions in the winter there is still a significant amount of spending. The trend with serviced accommodation is to go all year round but the highest numbers in February, March and June and July. This might be explained by the fact that these times of years are when the national Eisteddfod is held and so people are staying to watch a few days of that. Non serviced accommodation is higher in the summer months. This can be explained by the fact that campsites are open in the summer months and often closed in the winter months. Visiting Friends and Relatives is higher in the spring and in the summer months. This may be because this is when the majority of school holidays are so when they have time to go and visit family.
Barcelona is the next destination that I will look at. I will first look at the people coming into the city using the airport. There are international and domestic tourists in this graph. On all of the types of p[passengers they rose from 1990-2007 but then they all fell in 2008. This tells us that the passengers are not coming in to Barcelona so we must look for a reason for this. In 2007 the worldwide recession started so this may be a reason for why people are not going to Barcelona as much as they were before. Thisa will mean that they are likely getting less revenue.
The next thing that i will look at is how these are split up between males and females and if this can be taken advantage of by the tourist industry in Barcelona. As we can see in 1990 80% of the people going were males and now it is only 60.2% however this shows us that there is a likely possibility that most people who go are going on stag or hen nights so are in groups of either males or females. To take advantage of this they could do deals on Hen and Stag do’s.
The next thing that i will look at is the age of the people who are going to Barcelona. As we can see from the graph in 1990 the majority of people with 43.9% were 35-44 year olds. And the least was of 55 year olds with 0.8%. In n2008 most people were still 35-24 year olds but they had fallen and only took up 37.4% of the population. The reason for this could be the rise in the number of people who are going to university as most people are financially stabilising themselves at this age. The increase in over 55 years old could be due to the fact that they now feel more comfortable with travelling and so are more confident whilst travelling.
The next thing that I am going to look at is the number of tourists in relation to other European cities. As we can see from the table there were 3,643,562 tourists in Barcelona in the year 2000 over seven years this had grown more than any other European city and had grow by 1211.04% to 7,689,394 the other cities grew by less than 84.48% so we can see that Barcelona is doing well in relation to other European cities.
Many factors lead to the popularity of a destination. This includes:-
- Accessibility
- Promotion and Media coverage
- Attractions and facilities
- Economic Conditions
- Advances in Technology
- Major Events
- Exchange Rates
Accessibility is to change dramatically from London to Cardiff with the introduction of a high speed rail link on the line using an electric train. This would be a great thing for Cardiff as it would bring an estimated £2.2 billion into the Welsh economy. Cardiff has also got the help of Bristol and Swindon to make the bid to electrify the line. I think that this will let more people will come to Wales as it will cut the journey time to 70 minutes. There are also many budget airlines that operate from Cardiff with destination from all over Europe. I think that cheaper airlines will continue to bring people into Cardiff.
Promotion and Media coverage has been larger in Cardiff than normal at the moment. This is because it is where the Ryder cup was held in 2010 which brought Wales into the news papers of the world especially the golfing community. I think that this will lead a greater number of people to know where Wales is. There is also a visit Cardiff Website which is responsible for the promotion of Cardiff. I believe that with the decrease in Public Spending the website will have to find funding from elsewhere which may not be as significant and so there may be a decrease in the amount of visitors being referred from Visit Cardiff.
Attractions are another thing that makes a destination popular for if there is not enough attraction people will not go. Many attractions have been built in Cardiff in the last few years to make it more popular. The Bay was regenerated in the last 10 years which is a good thing for Cardiff as it will bring more families as it a family oriented attraction these are things like the Doctor Who Exhibition and the film studios. I predict that with these attractions growing many more people will go to Cardiff to see them. Then there is the town centre and Saint David’s shopping centre and the new millennium stadium. This will appeal to sporting fanatics and their families for if the families do not like sports they can go into the shopping centre for the duration of the match. I believe that new developments will continue to be made in Cardiff which will increase the popularity.
Exchange rates are one of the most important things when people deciding on a holiday it can make a destination attractive or off-putting. At the moment the euro exchanges at 1.13euro for each pound you spend. This works out at around 87 pence for each euro. This will make the UK and Cardiff an attractive destination for European tourists as it is a very cheap destination. The dollar is exchanging at 1 pound for 1.63 dollars. This works out at one dollar costing 61p. A few years ago the exchange rate was 1 pound was 2 dollars so Americans should take advantage of this. I predict that when the pound strengthens again after the economic depression the UK and Cardiff will become a less popular destination.
Major Events are another good thing for a destination. Cardiff sees the six nations come to Wales every year which brings people from all over Europe. The next thing that is coming to Wales is the Olympics that are to be held in Britain in 2012. The events to be held in Wales are the women’s Football. I believe that this will make Cardiff more popular for that year and also for a few years after because people will want to come and see the stadium that they were held in.
Many factors lead to the popularity of a destination. This includes:-
- Accessibility
- Promotion and Media coverage
- Destination Management
- Economic Conditions
- Advances in Technology
- Major Events
- Exchange Rates
Accessibility
Accessibility to Barcelona has changed dramatically to Barcelona over the past few years with more low cost budget airlines being operational into the city. One of the things that has really changed is that the Accessible Barcelona Guide is available for those who have disabilities. This guide outlines the places that are available for access with wheelchairs and the difficulty of getting in and if you will need help. I believe that this will continue to increase the amount of disabled individuals that travel to Barcelona. I also believe that the low cost budget airlines will help to increase the amount of tourists that travel to Barcelona.
Promotion ands Media Coverage was large in Barcelona in 1992 as it was where the Olympics were held and it is one of the biggest sporting events in the world. The city was in the newspapers and in the news. This would have made it more popular in the 90’s because people would want to go and see where the Olympics had been held. I believe that in the future prospective Olympic Athletes will travel to Barcelona and train.
Economic Conditions in the world are not good at the moment the with recent recession. In this recession many countries across Europe have struggled with finance as well as businesses. With people having less money to spend they are not going on Holiday abroad as much as they used to. I believe that for the foreseeable future Barcelona will see a decrease in international Tourists and an increase in domestic tourists however I believe that as time goes on the international tourists wi9ll start to go back to Barcelona.