Wales is the ideal getaway destination for a range of Middle East travelers looking to holiday in the countryside. The rolling pastures, rugged shoreline and mountain regions of Wales create the right setting for a relaxing vacation, away from the UAE’s hectic pace of life.
Wales’ allure lies as much in its cities, towns and villages, as in its diverse countryside and landscape. The country is surrounded by approximately 965 kilometres (600 miles) of coastline, with the sea enveloping three sides of Wales.
“UAE holiday makers have uniquely breathtaking attractions awaiting them in Wales. Despite its proximity to England, Wales has nevertheless maintained its independent spirit, language and culture,” said Carol Maddison, VisitBritain Marketing Manager, UAE.
Wales hosts various attractions, ranging from monastic ruins and majestic castles to expansive parks and gardens. Some of the greatest Welsh attractions are free of cost. The pastoral countryside is a lure in itself, where the leisurely exploration of small towns and villages reveals a great deal of Welsh culture.
Cardiff is Wales's capital city, as well as its largest. Like most large urban centres, Cardiff is a busy commercial hub, surrounded by many sights and activities for visitors to enjoy.
For those with a passion for golf, there is only one place to be in October 2010. The Celtic Manor Resort, on the outskirts of Newport in South Wales, will host the Ryder Cup, one of the world’s great sporting events. Tickets for the 2010 Ryder cup will be available through a random lottery draw. Registration for the ballot is scheduled to start in March or April 2009. The ballot will be closing in August 2009.
To find out more about Wales and the Ryder Cup, log on to www.visitwales.com and www.rydercup.com respectively.
Notes to editors
• VisitBritain is responsible for promoting Britain as a world class tourist destination and for developing England’s visitor economy. It has representatives in 36 countries around the world and has expanded into India, China, throughout Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia.
• Figures for 2007 indicate there were 32.8 million visits to Britain, +0.2% up on 2006. They spent £16.0 billion in the UK: a -0.3% decrease on 2006.
• Every year over 12 million visits are made by international consumers to the 46 websites that make up VisitBritain’s global family of websites, www.visitbritain.com, which together provide information in 26 different languages.
