Relaxing is difficult…

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“What is bad elsewhere might be good here…”

The naming of the best places to live in Wales only serves to underline how the Iran war and huge global upheavals in recent years, have devastated tourism around the world.

Usk in Monmouthshire came top of the Sunday Times (ST) list of the most desirable places in Wales, with Norwich taking the overall best spot in the UK.

Among those also named in Wales were Anglesey, Cowbridge, and the Cardiff neighbourhood of Pontcanna, along with Aberystwyth, Crickhowell and Llandeilo.

While these places have been cited as the most attractive to live in, they are also likely to gain tourists, when flying to destinations in other parts of the world has been badly hit by recent events.

For example, thousands of flights were cancelled after America and Israel attacked Iran, and in its revenge bombardment of nearby countries, Iran damaged Dubai’s airport—a vital transit hub, like Doha’s in Qatar—plus a hotel on Palm Jumeirah, a flagship peninsula.

Michael Ben-Baruch says rebuilding trust takes time

The Middle East is losing more than $600 million in visitor spending a day, estimates the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

“It takes time to rebuild trust” after a war, counsels Michael Ben-Baruch of Israel’s tourism ministry.

Visitor numbers to Israel are down massively

His country’s travel industry is still recovering from the atrocities of October 7 2023 and the campaign in Gaza.

Last year Israel welcomed just 1.3 million international visitors, down by 71 per cent from 2019.

A new luxury hotel was scheduled to open in Jerusalem in early April, but then Israel’s airspace closed once more.

Donald Trump and the scenes in Minneapolis, have NOT made America an attractive destination for holiday makers…

Then there has been the effects on international tourism of Russia’s onslaught on Ukraine, and even America is now seen as less welcoming under Donald Trump.

Many people refuse to visit the USA while he is in power, and pictures on the television or in newspapers, of heavy handed immigration officials in Minneapolis do not help.

All of this makes Wales even more appealing, both for visitors and those choosing to stay.

Good reading material…

So appalling events hundreds of miles away could benefit Wales.

Just ask those who compile the list of the best places in the UK…

 

The memories of our Editor, Welshman Phil Parry’s astonishing 42 year award-winning career in journalism, as he was gripped by the rare neurological disabling condition, Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP), have been released in a major book ‘A GOOD STORY’. Order the book now!