WEST WALES ECONOMY TO GET CRUISE VISITORS BOOST

The West Wales economy is set to benefit from the arrival of over 3,000 extra visitors in Milford Haven this year as the port continues to establish itself as a cruise destination and gateway to Pembrokeshire.

Five luxury cruise ships, the tall ship Tenacious and the popular paddle steamer the Waverley will all be bringing passengers in the Haven, many of whom will come ashore and explore the town and the county’s countryside further on excursions.

The ships’ visits, between May and October, are evidence of the effort that Milford Haven Port Authority has put in over recent years to attract cruises, which bring with them an influx of visitors and hundreds of crew members and provide a boost to the local economy.

Ted Sangster, Milford Haven Port Authority chief executive, said their commitment to developing the port as a cruise destination was paying off.

“We made a strategic decision a little while ago to capitalise on the benefits that we as a port can bring to cruise operators,” he said.

“We have in the Haven very high quality berthing and mooring facilities and services in a beautiful disembarkation location which puts visitors into the heart of Pembrokeshire - one of Britain’s most beautiful counties.

“These are assets we want to capitalise on to create further economic opportunities for this region, and we are delighted that our efforts mean we are now an established destination for cruise operators.”

As well as the Waverley and the Tenacious - one of two tall ships operated by the Jubilee Sailing Trust specially designed to integrate able-bodied and physically disabled crew - five cruise ships will be calling between June and September on their way around Britain’s coast.

In June, the MV Explorer arrives from Glengarrif in Eire on its way to the Scilly Isles. The German ship Delphin Renaissance, on its way from Torquay to Oban in Scotland visits in July, as does the Saga Ruby, sailing between Falmouth and Dublin. In August the Prinsendam calls in after visiting Guernsey en route to Waterford, and in September the Saga Ruby calls in on its return leg back to Falmouth.