Spiritual Tourism Symposium

The aim of this symposium is to identify ways to attract more people to Wales as a spiritual destination. Participants will learn about the many faith tourism projects already in existence or under development, share information and discuss objectives, funding, co-ordination and infrastructure. They will be encouraged to discuss any problems they have encountered in creating spiritual tourism experiences, how they overcame them and what measures are needed if spiritual tourism in Wales is to fulfil its undoubted potential.

Visit Wales, the Welsh Government’s tourism agency, will present its ‘Chapels Toolkit’ at the symposium, with its advice on how to open places of worship to the public and provide a welcome to visitors. The symposium will include discussion of how we can engage with Welsh Government's 'Faith Tourism Action Plan' (2015) and the newly launched Visit Wales tourism strategy 'Welcome to Wales: priorities for the visitor economy 2020 – 2025’.

We hope that the symposium will lead to the formulation of a new action plan and the creation of a permanent Pilgrimage Forum for Wales that will act as a co-ordination and information body, providing a flexible and supportive network for everyone involved in spiritual tourism.

The University of South Wales is hosting the seminar, in association with Cadw, Visit Wales, the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, the Welsh Historic Places of Worship Forum and the National Churches Trust. The agenda for the day is still in preparation; once you have signed up for the symposium, we will send you a copy of the agenda and ask you for your language, dietary and access preferences.

Date: 6 April 2020

Time: 10:00 to 16:30

Location: University of South Wales Conference Centre, Llantwit Road, Treforest, Pontypridd, CF37 1DL

Free admission by ticket.