For my two penneth for what it's worth, I don't think there is ever going to be much future in Llandudno or anywhere else in the UK to be a hugely popular mass tourist long stay holiday destination for families, no matter what is on offer. Quite simply we can't compete with the guaranteed sunshine on offer in the Med. Providing wet weather entertainment isn't the answer because that's not what families want on their holidays because it means more expense.We are more likely to attract short stay visitors so we should concentrate on bringing events to the town such as the Victorian weekend, car rallies, pop concerts, etc.
Older folk, which Llandudno successfully attracts, come here because it doesn't involve long arduous journeys involving airports etc. If we are successful with that area of tourism, aim to get a larger share of that market and aim to get there by improving facilities aimed at them. It's a market that will always exist and one where often there is plenty of money to spend too, however, as a new generation reaches that age profile their expectations will change too. Wartime memories with Vera Lynn and Sunday hymns on the prom will not have much relevance in the future. Free Wifi access on the prom might have more appeal to everyone as would a varied choice of theatre productions, maybe even televised productions from the West End.
Keep Llandudno colourful with lots of flowers, make it a safe place with no drunkenness and yobbish behaviour on the streets, interesting shops, good quality restaurants,open air cafes and bars to sit and watch the world go by and you are satisfying a very large percentage of the visitors. Bodafon Fields as a true park with the ability to still host events would be an excellent idea. Unless an Alton Towers equivalent is built, any theme park isn't going to work and lets face it, a)would we really want that in town and b) how many people that visit Alton Towers and the like stay more than a day there.
The local bus tours around the Orme and to Conwy seem to do well, how about linking some services to local attractions too making it easy to understand which bus goes where. Places like the Mountain Zoo, Bodnant gardens, Llandudno tram, Conwy RSPB, the new Wave Centre in Dollgarog, even the Colwyn Bay skip could all be linked in a circular bus route aimed at tourists, particularly those who arrive without transport.
Most importantly of all though is to successfully publicise what's on. Living locally but buying the local paper ( or getting a free Pioneer delivered) I might be missing out, but I am continually aware of missed opportunities because I didn't find out about them until after the event. Local hotels and B&B's should all carry a monthly a news sheet where everything is brought together on a day by day basis, offering the tourist easy access to local information of what's on, it would also help local business target specific groups who might be attracted to such events.
