Hmmm... Statistics are tricky things. But they are available.
First: do more people visit during the weekend than a normal weekend? Yes, and the evidence for that is in increased coach numbers, additional train numbers and the money taken by the Transport Festival Car park scheme on Bodafon.
Second: do more people visit during the weekend than any other bank holiday weekend? That's harder to judge, and you'd need to look at two factors: food and beverage takings for that weekend compared with other BH times and then bed availability - again, as a direct comparison. But the purely empirical evidence has always been from the NW Police service, who have noted in the past that the queues of traffic leaving Llandudno and travelling along the A55 towards Liverpool and Manchester are at their heaviest during the Extravaganza weekend.
Third: are overall takings up in the town during that weekend? This is the nub of the matter, and the one hardest to prove, because the shops won't release their takings figures. There is anecdotal evidence, such as the fact that places like WH Smith have long argued their takings for the Extravaganza weekend are usually down on even a normal summer weekend, and people have to eat, so the people that don't bring their own butties in a bag have to pay.
Four: what's the overall perception of Llandudno as a destination for a day visitor on that weekend? I suspect it depends on your particular preferences: it clearly attracts the steam engine fraternity and those who enjoy slightly ropey fairgrounds with their associated crowds and noise. But it almost certainly deters those who are looking for a quiet weekend by the seaside.
There's also the undeniable fact that those visiting only have a certain amount of cash, and between the Transport Festival and the fairgrounds there's a lot of competition for that limited supply.
But where the event scores heavily is in more indefinable ways. It creates an aim, a purpose if you like, for the numbers of volunteers who might otherwise be sitting about with little to do. They come together throughout the year, at meetings, various strategy sessions and exercises and attempt to create the enthusiasm for the project which clearly so many lack. If it does anything, it demonstrates clearly what a few motivated and dedicated individuals can achieve in the face of, frankly, tremendous odds and rather a lot of naysaying. I suspect that's one of its most valuable assets.
Yorkie is right, apart from the creepy alice project the council do nothing to encourage tourism, we need the theatre to have shows, the beach to be top notch, the gardens to be full of flowers, good lighting, good seating areas, a big wheel , boat trips, and so on........
So what are you doing about it, llewelyn? What projects to improve the town are you a part of? What has been your contribution to improving the Town of Llandudno over this past year? Because that's how long Wrex and Barney have been working to produce the Festival. And if you know of a sure-fire and relatively simple way to fill the theatres, create a world-class beach, renew all the lighting, install a big wheel and ensure a flotilla of boats doing trips around the bay then please tell us all, so we can pass the news to Judith. I guarantee you it'll be front page news.
CCBC and LTC catch it in the neck for not doing anything all the time, so let's see some of those who complain all the time stand for council. Yorkie's done it. What about others?
We're all part of the same community and we all want a place that's pleasant to walk around and enjoy in the sunshine. To keep it like that we need the visitors and we need traders who think it's worthwhile investing in the town. The Extravaganza just might help in that regard.
