Car parks needed to cope with number of visitors to hotspots

AS SOON as hot weather arrives tourists flock into North Wales in greater numbers than usual to access its beautiful countryside and fantastic beaches.

- Judith Phillips

To outsiders this might seem that cash strapped tourism related businesses must be receiving a welcome boost, and in some instances, that's probably the case, but others claim that an influx of mostly day visitors does little to boost the area's economy, while causing agony for residents who find their towns and villages crammed to bursting point sometimes leaving them trapped in their own homes.

It's somewhat ironic that so called “over tourism” is occurring at a time when the Welsh Government is hell bent on introducing a £1.30 a night tourism tax for visitors which industry chiefs say could sound the death knell for some struggling businesses, while the government argues that it will bring much needed revenue into the national coffers.

Either way, tourism is certainly this week's “hot” topic.