Despite the challenges facing so many tourism businesses as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Cambrian Mountains Initiative’s Dyfodol Cambrian Futures project has continued to support local businesses and communities. Funded via the Arwain LEADER Programme, the project has maintained its contact with as many businesses as possible.
With over three hundred participants and nearly twenty communities involved, the project has signposted businesses to support organisations, assisted with queries regarding financial support and created a pan Cambrian Mountains ZOOM meeting.
Many tourism businesses welcomed the opportunity to air their fears and frustrations regarding the impact of COVID-19 on their business and ZOOM meetings allowed for a clear message to be relayed to local authority officers as well as key Visit Wales colleagues. Feedback from the most recent ZOOM meetings indicated that those involved appreciated the opportunity to come together as one voice and that a collective representation was relayed to key decision makers.
In light of COVID-19, the Dyfodol Cambrian Futures project also sent out nearly 300 postcards to tourism businesses and project partners with a reassuring message of hope and unity. Many businesses took to social media to say thank you for this thoughtful gesture.
With much of the Cambrian Mountains ‘closed’ during lockdown, the project liaised with individuals, businesses and community groups to gather ideas and information related to the new ‘pocket guide’. The guide is now on the way to the press and includes information about nature, heritage and trails opportunities in the Cambrian Mountains.
People from across the area have contributed to this booklet identifying must visit nature reserves and heritage sites as well as providing eye-catching images. Look out for a copy of the guide on the project website soon.
During the lockdown, tourism businesses were encouraged to dip into a library of images made available by the project team. These were images captured from across the last three years of the project including summit views, lakes, waterfalls, river valleys and woodlands. These key natural assets are the ‘constant’ in the Cambrian Mountains landscape and impact positively on the enjoyment of visitors to the region.
Making the most of local talent, the project has acquired a stock of Cambrian Mountains drone footage that it intends to make a short film of. This stock, already filmed before lockdown, highlights the mind-blowing beauty of the area. It is hoped that businesses will use this short film to entice people to visit the Cambrian Mountains once again and appreciate how incredible this part of the world is.
The project stayed loyal to its commitment of four successive articles in the Ceredigion-based magazine EGO. The impact of COVID-19 meant that only online versions of the magazine were published. However it appears that nearly 500,000 views of these articles have been achieved to date. Visit the project website to view the articles on heritage, trails, nature and dark skies.
The project now looks forward to working with businesses and communities to roll out the ‘new’ Gweithio Gyda’n Gilydd/Working Together element of the work plan. Exciting activities involving local producers and retailers, innovative development related to access and recreation as well as the creation of multi-media promotional resources should encourage many in the tourism industry and confirm that the Cambrian Mountains Initiative remains committed to the future prosperity of the region.
Learn more about the Dyfodol Cambrian Futures by visiting www.thecambrianmountains.co.uk
#cambrianmountains
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram