Connectivity, demand drivers, and priorities shaping the visitor economy.
Conwy sits at the heart of North Wales with sea–mountain geography, quick access to the A55/A470, and rail via Llandudno Junction to London in ~3 hours. Within a 3-hour drive it captures most major conurbations in England including : Manchester, Liverpool, Stoke-on-Trent, Leeds, Sheffield, Chester and Birmingham. According to the ONS, there is an associated population of over 15 million people within 2.5 hours drive of Llandudno. 1
The county covers an area of 1,130 square kilometres at the heart of North Wales, with a varied geography that runs from the coast into Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park and offers a wide range of scenery and leisure opportunities. It has a population of around 115,000, with the largest towns being Llandudno, Colwyn Bay and Conwy. Settlement is concentrated along the coast and the Conwy Valley, with smaller market towns and rural communities extending into the national park. The economy blends tourism, retail and public services with a growing adventure/heritage offer; seasonality is pronounced but shoulder-season events and conferencing in Llandudno help smooth demand.
Tourism is a cornerstone sector: ~7.8m visitors generated an estimated £729m in 2021, rebounding from pandemic effects (2019: ~£996m). Staying visitors (~1.61m) punch above their weight—nearly double the economic impact of day trippers. 2
Llandudno is the serviced-accommodation hub of North Wales with ~15,000 beds per night; the East coast holds significant ~50,000 non-serviced (static) beds. The county offers a broad mix—hotels, self-catering, holiday parks, hostels and camping—supporting diverse price points and stay patterns.
Core drivers: coastline (45 miles; 17.5% Heritage Coast), Eryri landscapes (38% of county in the park), World Heritage (Conwy Castle & Town Walls), adventure attractions (Surf Snowdonia, Zip World), and marquee venues (Venue Cymru) and gardens (Bodnant).
The A55 links directly to the M56 (Manchester/Liverpool airports). Rail connectivity and proximity to Holyhead strengthen Ireland–UK flows. The 3-hour road catchment underpins resilient domestic demand for day trips and short stays year-round.
Inferences based on DMP objectives and product mix outlined in the plan.