Visit Wales’ latest campaign – “Feel the hwyl. Only in Wales” – features scenes shot in picturesque Tenby as part of its promo.
The campaign officially kicks off this month – with a call to visitors from far and wide to celebrate and experience joyful and fun moments unique to Wales.
Visit Wales’ latest campaign – “Feel the hwyl. Only in Wales” – features scenes shot in picturesque Tenby around North Beach and the harbour as part of its promo. (Pic supplied)
‘Hwyl’ has no direct translation in English, but describes a deep state of joy that comes from being totally immersed in the moment.
The ‘hwyl’ concept, part of the ‘2025 Year of Croeso’ – aims to differentiate Wales in a crowded marketplace through focussing on our language and a strong sense of place.
The campaign was filmed in over a dozen locations across Wales during Summer and Autumn 2024 in collaboration with the creative industries in Wales.
The locations range from coastal destinations such as Tenby and Three Cliffs on Gower, to a music festival in Merthyr Mawr, a Wrexham home game and even a hot air balloon trip above magnificent Raglan castle.
The locations range from coastal destinations such as Tenby and Three Cliffs on Gower, to a music festival in Merthyr Mawr, a Wrexham home game and even a hot air balloon trip above magnificent Raglan castle. (Pic supplied)
Maxine Hughes, of ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ fame and journalist, also features as part of the campaign to explain ‘hwyl’ and how Wales is the best place to experience it.
The multi-platform campaign uses real sounds from across Wales rather than music in an emerging trend for immersive sensory campaigns which give viewers the chance to not only see iconic destinations, but also to hear them and experience the moment and imagine themselves in that exact setting.
The theme and campaign are also easy for partners, destinations, and tourism businesses large or small to embrace and support.
Partner organisations will also be sharing their hwyl moments during the year including regional tourism destinations such as Visit Pembrokeshire and National Park authorities.
The Economy Secretary, with responsibility for Tourism, Rebecca Evans said: “We want to share our warm ‘croeso’ and unique ‘hwyl’ with the world and invite them to not just see but feel, taste and truly experience the ‘must do’ things we have on offer.” (Pic supplied)
The Economy Secretary, with responsibility for Tourism, Rebecca Evans said: “2025 will celebrate the joyful things that make us distinctively Welsh and can only be experienced here in Wales.
“We want to share our warm ‘croeso’ and unique ‘hwyl’ with the world and invite them to not just see but feel, taste and truly experience the ‘must do’ things we have on offer.
“We’re also very proud to be championing our wonderful language by using a Welsh word for the first time in our communications with global audiences.
Visit Wales will also be working closely with other parts of the Welsh Government during the Year of Croeso to increase the use of Welsh in the tourism industry (Pic supplied)
“Everyone can help us take even more of Wales to the world in 2025 by sharing the campaign and feeling the hwyl for themselves.”
Wrexham AFC CEO Michael Williamson remarked: “We’re pleased to have partnered with Visit Wales as part of their campaign.
“We’re proud of our heritage, culture, history and community in our corner of North Wales and continue to extend an invite to all who would like to visit Wrexham and North Wales to sample it for themselves.”
Wrexham AFC CEO Michael Williamson remarked: “We’re pleased to have partnered with Visit Wales as part of their campaign. (Pic supplied)
Visit Wales will also be working closely with other parts of the Welsh Government during the Year of Croeso to increase the use of Welsh in the tourism industry, promote Bwyd a Diod Cymru to encourage visitors to shop locally, and proactively speak to students about entering the Welsh tourism and hospitality industry as a career.