Where did WATO come from?
In 2008, on behalf of Welsh Government, Visit Wales ran a series of road shows across Wales for the outdoor sector to ask businesses for input on a range of topics such as:
- How can communications between Visit Wales and outdoor sector businesses be improved?
- How can marketing of outdoor activities be improved?
- How best to establish and share best practice for outdoor sector across Wales?
- How best to ensure that activities develop in a way which is sustainable for business, the environment and communities of Wales?
- How best to establish and share best practice for outdoor sector across Wales?
- How best to ensure that activities develop in a way which is sustainable for business, the environment and communities of Wales?
It was recognised at these four road shows that there were three established networks of outdoor sector providers already in existence operating regionally in Wales.
Snowdonia-Active (S-A), The South Wales Outdoor Activity Providers Group (SWOAPG) and The Pembrokeshire Outdoor Charter Group. The businesses attending the VW road shows voiced their support for Visit Wales to formally recognise and support the established networks as a way of answering the questions posed at those roadshows.
It was recognised that there was much best practice already happening regionally, and that by bringing representatives from the three established regional groups together, best practice could be shared between the regions, and communication improved between the outdoor sector and Visit Wales.
WATO was established in April 2009 and was sponsored by Visit Wales until 2018.