North Wales Listed as One of The Best Regions in The World to Visit

Wrexham.com for people living in or visiting the Wrexham area

This article is old - Published: Tuesday, Oct 25th, 2016

There is cause for celebration today as the beauty of north Wales is recognised as one of the best regions in the world to visit.

North Wales has been featured as number four in ‘Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Best in Travel 2017′ – the only region in the UK to make the list.

The list highlights the top 10 regions globally and also features Coastal Georgia (USA), South Australia and Taranaki (New Zealand)

While north Wales has plenty to offer those who visit and live here, it is the way the former industrial landscape has been reinvented and repurposed’ across the region – creating ‘a series of truly world class attractions, from high speed zip lining and inland surfing, to underground trampolining in a 176-year-old disused slate mine.’

North Wales has also been described as a ‘playground for thrill-seekers, a haven for foodies, a hideout for stargazers and a goldmine for heritage seekers’.

Great news and many of North Wales’ most beautiful places are in Wrexham! https://t.co/otlgJNYFgj pic.twitter.com/Sn5yipZekt

— Wrexham Council (@wrexhamcbc) October 25, 2016

Explaining how North Wales made the top 10, Tom Hall, Lonely Planet’s Editorial Director, said: “We included North Wales in this year’s list of top ten regions because it deserves to be recognised on the global stage. It’s a stunning area with a vast array of activities on offer to keep travellers entertained.

“North Wales has also become a haunt of in-the-know foodies, so however visitors get their kicks, once they’ve worked up an appetite, they’ll also be well catered for. North Wales is a gem and should be on every traveller’s radar.”

Wales has enjoyed two record breaking years with visitor numbers crossing the 10 million mark for the first time in 2014 and record spend from domestic and overseas visitors in 2015. Wales is looking to sustain this performance with the raised profile from international events such as Euro 2016, and the success of the 2016 Year of Adventure tourism campaign.

Economy Secretary, Ken Skates, said: “This is such fantastic news for Wales as our Year of Adventure draws to a close. Being listed as one of the best in the world by such a well respected and established publication such as the Lonely Planet is a real coup for north Wales.

“The award will of course play a big part in our marketing for 2017 as we move on to celebrate the Year of Legends in Wales. I’m sure it will make people who haven’t visited before think about Wales as a holiday destination and will also entice those who haven’t visited for a while back to Wales.

“This recognition is testimony to the commitment and partnership working between public and private sector to deliver a world class visitor experience. North Wales has reinvented itself over recent years and the addition of some cutting edge, world class facilities to match the awe-inspiring scenery has given people compelling reasons to visit the area.

“We’ve seen Investment in products which are attracting people to Wales – many for the first time and once in Wales they experience the warm welcome, culture and history of the area.”

To mark the occasion, the colossal dragon that’s been touring Welsh castles since famously breaking the banks of Caerphilly Castle in March, has today arrived in London, close to St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Measuring four metres in length and two metres wide, the creature has reptile-like black and red scales, smoke-flaring nostrils, and an outreached claw ready to capture passers-by.

Top 10 Regions in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2017: