Planning Policy Wales - Brecon Beacons National Park

11.1 Objectives
11.1.1 Tourism is vital to economic prosperity and job creation in many parts of Wales. It is a
significant and growing source of employment and investment, based on the country’s cultural and
environmental diversity. Tourism can be a catalyst for environmental protection, regeneration and
improvement in both rural and urban areas.
11.1.2 The Assembly Government’s objectives for tourism are :
• to encourage sustainable tourism in Wales, promoting local prosperity and supporting community
well-being and involvement, while protecting and giving value to natural heritage and culture 1 2 3 ;
and
• to manage the tourism sector in ways which minimise environmental impact.
11.1.3 Sport and recreation contribute to our quality of life. The Assembly Government supports
the development of sport and recreation, and the wide range of leisure pursuits which encourage
physical activity. These activities are important for the well-being of children and adults and for the
social and economic life of Wales. ‘Climbing Higher’ sets out the Assembly Government’s long term
strategy for an active, healthy and inclusive Wales where sport and physical activity are used to
enhance the quality of life nationally and in local communities 4 . The Assembly Government’s main
planning objectives are to promote:
• a more sustainable pattern of development, creating and maintaining networks of facilities and
open spaces in places well served by sustainable means of travel, in particular within urban
areas;
• social inclusion, improved health and well-being by ensuring that everyone, including children
and young people, the elderly and those with disabilities, has easy access to the natural
environment and to good quality, well-designed facilities and open space; and
• the provision of innovative, user-friendly, accessible facilities to make our urban areas, particularly
town centres, more attractive places, where people will choose to live, to work and to visit.
11.1.4 Tourism involves a wide range of activities, facilities and types of development throughout
Wales. The planning system should encourage sustainable tourism in ways which enable it to
contribute to economic development, conservation, rural diversification, urban regeneration and
social inclusion, recognising the needs of visitors and those of local communities. In addition to
supporting the continued success of existing tourist areas, appropriate tourist-related commercial
development in new destinations, including existing urban and industrial heritage areas, should be
encouraged.
11.1.5 Managing and adapting to climate change will be critical to the future of sustainable tourism
in Wales. Predicted changes in climate across the world may affect the tourism market in Wales 5 .
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Planning Policy Wales Edition 3 - July 2010 - Chapter 11 Tourism, Sport and Recreation