Experts from 11 European countries met in Pembrokeshire over the weekend to explore the role of festivals and events as a way of boosting rural tourism.
Over 65 participants attended a 'Transnational Fair' aimed at identifying best practice in supporting local people to develop their events and festivals in such a way that, as well as bringing pleasure to local communities, they also make a contribution to the local economy by providing visitors with an enjoyable experience of local life.
The delegates examined how community-led festivals and events could be made more sustainable by supporting a more professional approach to their organisation.
Representatives of rural development and tourist organisations from across Europe, including Germany, Sweden, Holland, Hungary, Latvia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Estonia, Ireland and the Czech Republic. The setting up of a pan-European internet-based festival promotion initiative we also considered.
PLANED, (Pembrokeshire Local Action Network for Enterprise and Development), organised the Fair on Developing and Marketing Local Festivals and Events from Friday, September 26 to Monday, September 29, at the Celtic Haven Holiday Village.
Among the speakers were Jasper Roberts, head of the rural policy unit of the Welsh Assembly Government, Philip Evans chair of the Wales Tourist Board, Irish festival organiser David Teevan and Professor Terry Stevens.
The Fair considered ways of encouraging the widest range of community-led festivals - food and craft, water and river, music and arts, agricultural shows and events involving walking, cycling, the countryside, environment, culture and heritage.
Representatives outlining details of their local festivals and events were, Marco Koscak and Vlado Kostevc from Slovenia, Inara Stalidzane, Latvia, Janne Backman, Sweden, Janka Meciarova, Slovakia and Kamila Matouskova from the Czech Republic.
PLANED co-ordinator Joan Asby, said: "PLANED's work with communities is revealing the positive impact that successful festivals and events can have on developing local pride and confidence, stimulating the local economy and attracting tourists.
"Research highlights the importance to tourists of meeting local people and getting to know their culture and way of life."
The aim of the Fair was to:
• Bring together Leader + and similar groups who've identified the development of festivals and events as a key activity important to their local economies (Leader + is the European Union's rural development initiative)
• Share experiences of planning, developing, supporting and marketing
• Help set up partnerships between organisations wanting to develop similar themes – for example maritime, walking, arts or local products.
• Explore the possibility of developing a pan-European internet-based marketing initiative.
Guests at the Fair met local people who have been involved with developing and organising community festivals and events. They visited Tenby, Saundersfoot, Pembroke, Carew and Narberth. Local Festivals and events organisers attended the Fair from Fishguard, Pembroke, Narberth, Langwm, Neyland and Tenby.
The Transnational Fair was supported by The Welsh Assembly Government, the Wales E.U. Leader + Programme, the Welsh Development Agency, and ELWa.