A new £500,000 reception facility at the award-winning Min-y-Don Holiday Park in Harlech was officially opened by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport Lord Elis-Thomas on Friday.
The minister, who is also the Assembly Member for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, said he wasdelighted to open the “splendid” reception facility at the park in the heart of beautiful Harlech and commended owners, Salop Caravans Sites, for their good work.
“Harlech has so much to offer the visitor: the castle, a World Heritage Site and one of the Europe’s top golf courses sat next to outstanding beaches in an unbeatable landscape,” he added.
“Given the importance of the sector, I am pleased to say the tourism industry in Wales is in very good shape. I do not underestimate the extremely competitive market place we operate in, but tourism in Wales is in a strong position.
“Although we’re looking forward with confidence, it’s also important that we’re not complacent and that we always look to improve which is why I’m delighted to be here today. So, let us keep this momentum and confidence going as we move into to a busy summer season.”
The 15-acre Min-y-Don Holiday Park, which has 112 caravan holiday homes and 100 fully serviced touring caravan and motorhome pitches, nestles below Harlech Castle, alongside the famous Royal St David’s Golf Club and just a short walk from one of the best beaches in Wales. Most of the pitches on the five-star park have views of either the castle or Mount Snowdon.
The new glazed and rendered reception facility at Min-y-don Holiday Park has a bright and welcoming, airconditioned visitors area with a hotel-style reception desk and comfortable seating, glazed office, boardroom, books, games and DVD library and toilets on the ground floor.
A spiral staircase rises to first floor customer service and sales office which enjoys fantastic panoramic views of the golf course, castle and surrounding hills.
Salop Caravans Sites also owns the adjoining Castle View Holiday Park, which has pitches for 59 caravan holiday homes. Both parks are popular with owners from Shropshire, the West Midlands and North West England.
In addition, the company is in the process of converting Hafod-y-Morfa house, situated adjacent to the park, into luxury holiday accommodation with three en suite bedrooms and a balcony hot tub which commands stunning views. Work is scheduled for completion later this summer.
Tony Bywater, chairman of park owners Salop Caravans Sites, said the continued investment in the parks showed the company’s belief that Harlech has a bright future as a tourist destination.
“The town has so much to offer visitors,” he added. “With more and more people now choosing to holiday in the UK rather than jetting overseas, it’s imperative that our holiday parks are of the highest quality to cater for their needs.
“We hope that our customers and staff enjoy the new, comfortable reception facility, which compliments the park’s five-star facilities.
“Here in Wales we have just enjoyed a fantastic, prolonged spell of hot weather which will hopefully encourage even more people to holiday here this summer and in the future.”
Manager Carl Millar revealed that Min-y-Don Holiday Park had enjoyed a record June and said bookings for the rest of the summer were excellent. Spaces during August were limited and he advised touring caravan and motorhome owners to book soon to avoid disappointment.
Councillor Judith Strevens, Harlech Community Council chairman, said: “The new reception facility gives visitors the right impression and is very welcoming when they drive onto the park.”
County Cllr Freya Bentham said: “We are really grateful that Salop Caravans Sites has chosen to invest in the park and in Harlech. This investment will have a huge knock on effect to the economy of Harlech and surrounding area.”
Richard Thomas, Snowdonia National Park Authority’s principal planning officer for development management, said: “It has been a pleasure working with Salop Caravans Sites for the past 10 years to develop sites which enhance both the visitor experience and the local economy.”
Val Hawkins, MWT Cymru chief executive, said: “It’s great to see Salop Caravans Sites continuing to invest in five-star holiday parks which are of huge benefit to the visitor economy of Mid Wales. The company is very professional and shows great attention to detail with its developments.”
