Cymraeg 
PRESS RELEASE
Sailing Academy to promote Pwllheli
Plas Heli Cyf, the operating company of The Welsh National Sailing Academy and Event Centre in Pwllheli, has been awarded £120,000 from the Big Lottery under its Coastal Communities Fund for a marketing initiative over the next two years.
Bob Lowe, Vice-Chairman of Plas Heli, welcomed the Big Fund award and said “We see this as an important opportunity to promote Pwllheli and the Llyn as a destination for visiting yachtsmen.
Plas Heli recognises that the last few years have been a difficult period for local yachtsmen, Hafan Pwllheli and marine traders. Local conditions and the depressed economy have damaged Pwllheli’s reputation as a destination for visiting yachtsmen and there is an urgent need to turn the tide of negative opinion.
We aim, working with the Partneriaeth Pwllheli, to promote the town as ‘Calon Hwylio Cymru – the heart of Welsh sailing’ and attract more visiting yachts, including cruises in company and flotillas as well as major events and yacht regattas. The project will raise the profile of the Lleyn as a tourist destination with visitors and support both directly and indirectly the local economy.
The new visitor berths and regatta facilities are a central plank of the Plas Heli business plan and we need to ensure these are promoted in the key markets of Ireland, Europe and the rest of the UK. We want to develop new ways and tools to showcase the local attractions and businesses of the Llyn and Pwllheli with visiting yachtsmen, event competitors and their families and secure repeat business. Plas Heli fully supports Cyngor Gwynedd’s campaign ‘Cadw y Budd yn Lleol – Keep the Benefit Local’ and over 35 local businesses are already involved with this initiative with us. We are also working with Gwynedd on its Destination Management Plan Action Plan for the Lleyn and can see benefits for many tourist businesses in collaboration.”
The project will employ a marketing officer who will be responsible for initiating market research, developing new products to promote Pwllheli, including the latest social media techniques, and working with local tourist attractions and businesses to ensure the opportunities created by the Welsh National Sailing Academy are understood and grasped. The project aims to increase tourist expenditure by over £1.5m and visitor numbers by over 10,000. It will encourage the creation of new micro-businesses and provision of jobs for vocational trainees at Coleg Meirion Dwyfor.
The grant award will be particularly important in supporting the business development of Plas Heli with a range of new activities. From 2015 Plas Heli will be an exciting new venue for hosting cultural events, conferences and trade shows. As a local facility it will provide for community activities and social events as well and it is intended to develop out of season activities that will contribute to the local economy.
Bob Lowe said he was confident that Centre would be a major boost to Pwllheli and the local economy. Pipeline projects include the International Topper World championships and Celtic Regatta in August 2014. World championships for the 29er and Fireballs are planned for 2015 together with a Wales Boat Show.
The outdoor ‘offer’ in north-west Wales is regarded as outstanding in terms of benefits to the tourist economy. Locally the Grwp Awyr Agored based at Plas Heli is developing activities and competitions associated with canoeing, rowing, cycling and surfing supported by grants received from Sport Wales and the Splash fund. Endurance and challenge events are planned that it is hoped will attract many competitors and provide a further boost to Pwllheli in 2014.
