A group of keen ramblers has sworn off a return to the rugged landscapes of north Wales after encountering what they described as "anti-English" attitudes in the beloved tourist spot of Llanberis, Eryri. Despite Wales having a sterling reputation for its warm hospitality, a key factor that entices tourists to favour it over alternative destinations, Amy Hurst, 56, from Clitheroe, Lancashire, and her trekking cohort felt snubbed throughout their visit. Shocked by the cold reception, Amy, visiting with six other women, all part of the 'Women that Walk' initiative started in their hometown to encourage females to embrace hill and countryside wandering, recounted their experience.
As a florist and a mother, she remarked: "The hatred for the English in North Wales is astounding, we will not be returning." Tourist hotspots across Europe have sparked debates about sustainability due to mass tourism, culminating in protests and unwelcoming behaviours towards visitors. While Wales has witnessed its share of demonstrations concerning second-home ownership issues, outright unfriendliness directed at tourists is relatively rare.
Llanberis, nestled at the foot of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), attracts thousands of visitors from England every week, reports . Responding to these assertions, Jim Jones, chief executive of North Wales Tourism, stressed that the locality prides itself on being "friendly and welcoming, re Amy, who operates a flower business, shared that the group first sensed something w.