An Investigation into the impact of tourism on Betws-y-Coed.

An Investigation into the impact of tourism on Betws-y-Coed

Having compiled my knowledge and research into this piece of coursework, I hope to have addressed the following questions regarding Betws-y-Coed:

How has tourism impacted on the economy?

What visitor management is currently in place?

What are the drawbacks to tourism?

In my work, I hope to discover what exactly are the positive and negative aspects of tourism in the honeypot Betws-y-Coed by relating to Snowdonia National Park. It is important to contemplate the features the region has to offer, and why they are so appealing. I also have to take into account the transport routes to the town, and how these might affect the number of visitors from each region.

Betws-y-Coed is one of the smaller towns in the Snowdonia National Park, North Wales, with a population of approximately 615 people. Located on the upper end of the Conway valley where the Afon Llugwy joins the Afon Conway, the village is cut in half by the important A5 road which is one of the transcontinental routes from Ireland to the European mainland. The development of the A5 means that Betws-y-Coed is simply accessed from the Midlands and Southern England, examples being Birmingham and Stoke-On-Trent. The town today attracts tourists to the area throughout the year with the greatest number of people visiting in the summer months. The number visiting has increased with the completion of the new A55 Expressway, which reduced the travelling time from Liverpool to Betws-y-Coed to less than one hour, thus meaning an increase in day visitors who are looking for a tranquil break from their bustling urban lives. The A55 Expressway road along North Wales means fast and easy access from the main UK motorway network, with much of North West England, for example, being little over an hour away.

The areas in and around Snowdonia National Parks are naturally picturesque, and visitors can enjoy tranquil walks, admiring anything from glaciated scenery to lush green valleys. (see below) The idyllic surroundings present a change from an arduous urban lifestyle, and this is one of the many reasons people flock from cities such as Manchester and Liverpool. The excess visitors boost the economy, as they purchase souvenirs and make use of the surplus accommodation. Hotels and B&B’s contribute to a rise in employment, which again enhances the economy. However, mass tourists present a problem for Betws-y-Coed, including litter and traffic congestion, and it will be intriguing to discover how the honeypot manages these issues. I intend to investigate these factors in detail, and successfully answer the questions stated at the beginning.

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Both photographs illustrate “Crib Goch” at different times of the day, the one on the right at dawn and the picture on the left at sunset. Visitors can admire the stunning scenery, taking photos, while the more adventurous groups can participate in activities such as climbing, mountain biking, cycling and even hand gliding. To support such activities, towns such as Betws-y-Coed offer the opportunities to rent bikes. Money brought in from recreational activities and equipment for these has a positive impact on the economy. The danger is that too many walkers can erode footpaths, as they remove large pieces of mud from the surface, thus causing harm to the scenery. Water sports such as canoeing can be pursued in calm lakes (see picture below), while experiencing the natural beauty. Other interests than can be pursued around Snowdonia are bird-watching, painting, and golfing on the specially designed courses.

Tourists can experience the unique traditions surrounding Betws-y-Coed, as the sense of community is very strong and Snowdonia's appeal springs from its unique heritage, culture and language, which touches on everyday life, giving this area a truly distinctive character. Linking in with my basic questions, we need to look at how this exclusive culture is sustained, and how tourists are “managed”.

How has tourism impacted on the economy? This question is investigating how exactly the presence of tourists has impacted on the local economy of Betws-y-Coed. We will be looking at the buildings in the honeypot, and what services and pleasures they offer to visitors. For example, a busy souvenir shops tells us that tourism has had a positive impact on the economy, as we assume that many people will be purchasing the items on offer. We also have to consider that numerous shops would bring employment to the area, another positive impact on the economy.

What visitor management is currently in place? This question is investigating how Betws-y-Coed copes with excess tourists, and whether the managing system is effective. We need to look at the car parks in place, and how successful they are at preventing road congestion. In my particular initiative, I will be asking visitors whether they feel the village is dealing with the problems that tourists inevitably bring. We need to pay attention to litter bins, yellow lines, and other methods of visitor management.

What are the drawbacks to tourism? This question is investigating the exact problems that tourists bring to the area. To answer this, we will conduct litter, noise, traffic, pedestrian and car park surveys. If we discover excess litter at a particular site on the High Street for example, we can conclude that litter is a major drawback to tourism. This question links closely with the previous one, as we can investigate how the honeypot combats difficult issues.