Cymraeg

Twristiaeth: Y Gymraeg ‘weithiau’n mynd yn y ffordd’

Published

11 years ago

May 28, 2015

Tom Sinclair

” Byddwn yn gweithio gyda’r diwydiant i gynnal y ffigurau ardderchog hyn yng Nghymru.”: Ken Skates .

MAE CADEIRYDD Cynghrair Twristiaeth Cymru wedi dweud fod y Gymraeg ‘weithiau’n mynd yn y ffordd’ pan mae twristiaid yn ymweld â llefydd gydag enwau Cymraeg yng Nghymru.
Roedd Chris Osborne yn siarad ar raglen Good Morning Wales ar BBC Radio Wales cyn i Aelodau Cynulliad drafod deiseb sy’n galw am greu polisi cenedlaethol i ddiogelu a gwarchod enwau lleoedd Cymraeg.
Ar y rhaglen, dywedodd Chris Osborne ei fod yn credu fod cadw’r iaith Gymraeg yn fyw yn ‘bwysig iawn’ i dwristiaeth yn y wlad, ond ychwanegodd, oherwydd bod 80% o dwristiaid i Gymru yn dod o’r DU, a’r rhan fwyaf o’r rheini’n dod o Loegr, bod angen ‘gwneud pethau’n hygyrch ac i enwau llefydd fod yn hygyrch’.
Ond, pan ofynnwyd iddo a oedd o’n gwybod am unrhyw enghraifft o enw amgen Saesneg yn cael ei roi ar le oedd wedi cael effaith cadarnhaol ar dwristiaeth mewn ardal, dywedodd fod yr iaith Gymraeg ‘weithiau yn mynd yn y ffordd’.
Ychwanegodd Chris Osborne: “Nawr, rwy’n sylweddoli ei fod yn rhan fawr o beth sydd gan Gymru i’w gynnig, ac rwy’n falch iawn o hynny, ond os yw’n mynd yn y ffordd, dylai fod gwahanol ffyrdd i alluogi pobl i’w fwynhau i raddau mwy.”
Daeth ei sylwadau wrth i Aelodau Cynulliad drafod deiseb sefydliad Mynyddoedd Pawb sydd wedi casglu dros 1,500 o enwau pobol sy’n credu y dylai enwau Cymreig hanesyddol – ar fynyddoedd, llwybrau, tai neu greigiau – gael eu parchu gan drigolion ac ymwelwyr.
Yn y pen draw, y bwriad yw perswadio Llywodraeth Cymru i ddod a’r enwau o dan reolaeth gynllunio, fel bo canolfannau awyr agored yn defnyddio’r enwau brodorol er mwyn ‘cyfoethogi profiad a dealltwriaeth cerddwyr’.
Wrth ymateb i sylwadau Chris Osborne ar y rhaglen y bore ma dywedodd Ceri Cunnington, sefydlydd menter awyr agored Antur Stiniog, ac un o’r rhai fydd yn cyflwyno deiseb Mynyddoedd Pawb: “Mae’r byd yn dod yn unffurf. Mae pobl am gofleidio diwylliannau newydd, eisiau profiadau newydd, am gael profiad gwirioneddol o iaith a diwylliant – a dw i’n meddwl bod eich datganiad chi am y Gymraeg yn mynd yn y ffordd yn anhygoel yn yr oes sydd ohoni.”
Ffiguriau twristiaeth daro uchel newydd:
Cyhoeddodd Llywodraeth Cymru ffigurau sy’n cadarnhau bod 2014 wedi profi’n flwyddyn brysurach nag erioed o’r blaen i dwristiaeth yng Nghymru. Bu 10 miliwn o ymwelwyr o Brydain yn aros dros nos yng Nghymru yn ystod y flwyddyn a hynny am y tro cyntaf ers i Arolwg Twristiaeth Prydain Fawr ddechrau, ar ei ffurf gyfredol, yn 2006. Mae hwn yn ffigwr sydd i’w ganmol.
Gwelwyd cynnydd o 0.7 y cant yn nifer y tripiau i Gymru o’i gymharu â 2013, a’r flwyddyn honno hefyd yn un ardderchog. Mewn gwrthgyferbyniad, roedd y ffigwr ar gyfer Prydain gyfan wedi gostwng 7.0 y cant.
Yn ogystal, roedd ymwelwyr o Brydain wedi gwario’r swm uchaf erioed yng Nghymru y llynedd fel y, sef £1.735 biliwn. Mae hwn yn gynnydd o 2.3 y cant tra bod cyfanswm yr hyn a wariwyd ar dripiau dros nos ym Mhrydain gyfan wedi gostwng 2.6 y cant o’i gymharu â 2013.
Mae’r cynnydd a fu yn nifer yr ymweliadau gwyliau – y brif elfen sy’n cynnal twristiaeth yng Nghymru – hyd yn oed yn fwy canmoladwy. O gymharu â 2013: aeth 4.4 y cant yn fwy ar dripiau, a gwariwyd 7.7 y cant yn fwy mewn cysylltiad â hynny.
Dywedodd Ken Skates, y Dirprwy Weinidog Diwylliant, Chwaraeon a Thwristiaeth: “Mae’r ffigurau hyn yn hollol wych. Mae’n dangos bod Cymru ar flaen y gad. Mae cyrraedd y 10 miliwn yn garreg filltir bwysig iawn ac mae’n dangos bod Cymru yn ennill cyfran fwy o’r farchnad. Mae gwaith marchnata clodwiw Croeso Cymru wedi ennill gwobrau ac mae wedi sicrhau canlyniadau arbennig i Gymru. Y llynedd, fe wnaeth ymgyrch farchnata Prydain ac Iwerddon sef Have you packed for Wales? sbarduno gwerth £238m o wariant ychwanegol yn economi Cymru – cynnydd o 25 y cant ar gyfanswm y llynedd. Drwy fuddsoddi yn y Cynllun Cymorth Buddsoddi mewn Twristiaeth, rydym wedi ysgogi £13.97m o wariant ychwanegol.. Rydym wedi helpu’r diwydiant yng Nghymru i wella er mwyn cwrdd â disgwyliadau a galwadau’r cwsmeriaid, ac ae hynny’n hanfodol bwysig yn y diwydiant cystadleuol hwn. Mae’r diwydiant yn llawn hyder wedi cyfnod llwyddiannus iawn dros y Pasg. Gobeithiaf y bydd y ffigurau hyn yn rhoi hwb pellach i hyder y diwydiant ac y gallwn adeiladu ar y llwyddiant hwn. Mae Prydain gyfan yn wynebu dirywiad yn y farchnad ac mae hynny’n gwneud y diwydiant twristiaeth yn un hynod gystadleuol. Byddwn yn gweithio gyda’r diwydiant i gynnal y ffigurau ardderchog hyn yng Nghymru.”
Dywedodd Justin Baird Murray, Cadeirydd Cymru o Gymdeithas Lletygarwch Prydain (sy’n cynrychioli’r diwydiant gwestai a bwytai yng Nghymru): “Mae’r ffigurau hyn o Arolwg Twristiaeth Prydain Fawr yn galonogol iawn ac yn adlewyrchu hyder y gwestywyr yn eu cynnyrch eu hunain ac yn rhoi i ni sylfaen gadarn ar gyfer parhau i dyfu twristiaeth o ansawdd yng Nghymru. Mae’r diwydiant yn croesawu yn gynnes cefnogaeth frwd y Gweinidog ar gyfer ein busnesau a chydnabyddiaeth y llywodraeth o ba mor bwysig yw Lletygarwch i economi Cymru. Yr ydym ar y trywydd iawn i gyrraedd ein targed uchelgeisiol o 20,000 o swyddi newydd yn ein sector rhwng 2011 a 2020 a bydd gennym ein in ystadegau eu hunain dros y misoedd nesaf sydd yn dangos ein pwysigrwydd hanfodol fel cyflogwr i gymunedau ledled Cymru.”
Yn yr Arolwg Teithwyr Rhyngwladol, mae’r ffigurau ar gyfer naw mis cyntaf 2014 yn dangos bod nifer y bobl o dramor a wnaeth ymweld â Chymru hefyd yn gadarnhaol. Bu cynnydd o 14 y cant yn nifer yr ymwelwyr (795,000) o’i gymharu â’r un cyfnod yn 2013. Gwelwyd cynnydd o 6 y cant yn y ffigurau gwariant (i £303 miliwn). Edrychwn ymlaen yn eiddgar at gael y canlyniadau llawn ar gyfer 2014.

Community

Pembrokeshire Eisteddfod 2026 funding backed by Cabinet

Published

3 days ago

June 2, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

FINANCIAL backing of this year’s Eisteddfod in Pembrokeshire, to the tune of £73,000, with a potential budget of up to £200,000, has been approved by senior councillors.

The 2026 Eisteddfod, running from August 1-8 at Llantwd, north Pembrokeshire, holds particular historical significance as it marks the 850th anniversary of the first recorded Eisteddfod, held in 1176 at Castell Aberteifi.

With this year’s Maes located close to the original site, the event is expected to be a landmark occasion for the region and for Wales as a whole.

The National Eisteddfod is the largest cultural festival in Europe and one of the most prominent events in the Welsh cultural calendar, attracting approximately 175,000 visitors annually.

The festival celebrates Welsh language, literature, music, and the arts, with a diverse programme of competitions, performances, exhibitions, and community activities.

The Eisteddfod proclamation took place in Narberth last May, with hundreds attending.

At the June meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet, members were asked to approve Pembrokeshire County Council to lead and deliver Pentre’r Garreg Las at the National Eisteddfod 2026.

Cabinet was also asked to approve the current financial commitment of approximately £73,751 (+ VAT), noting that further costs will be finalised as the programme develops, and endorse collaborative arrangements with Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire County Councils.

A budget for up to £200,000 for the promotion of the event is also being pencilled in; members hearing it was hoped this figure would be a ceiling of potential costs, with hopes the council’s part could be lowered by external funding.

A report for members, presented by Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Safeguarding and the Welsh Language Cllr Alistair Cameron, said: “The National Eisteddfod is Europe’s largest travelling cultural festival, attracting up to 170,000 visitors annually and providing a nationally significant platform for the celebration of Welsh language, culture and identity.

“As lead authority, Pembrokeshire is responsible for the overall coordination, planning and funding of the Pentre. This includes the development of the overarching concept, the curation of a coherent thematic programme, and the management of key relationships with partner authorities, stakeholders and delivery partners.”

It went on to say: “While initial site, infrastructure and concept costs have been identified at approximately £73,751 (+ VAT), it is recognised that the full delivery of Pentre’r Garreg Las, as a flagship offer led by Pembrokeshire, will necessitate a broader major events budget estimated in the region of £200,000. The funding for this is coming from the current major events budget with additional funding coming from the initiative fund reserve.”

The report said efforts will be made to maximise external funding opportunities in order to mitigate the net cost to the council.

Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services Cllr Rhys Sinnett said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Pembrokeshire to showcase the best of this county,” adding: “The last time it was here was 2004, we get to see this opportunity maybe every 20 years, it’s down to us to make the best of the opportunity, overall it’s a fantastic story for us as a county.”

A full budget breakdown is expected at the July Cabinet meeting, members agreeing to back the recommendations.

Community

Pembrokeshire adventurer Tori James named National Learn Welsh Ambassador

Published

2 weeks ago

May 23, 2026

Richard Lewis

AS THE NATIONAL Centre for Learning Welsh celebrates its highest ever number of learners – over 20,000 in 2024–2025 – it has announced a new ambassadors scheme with the aim of inspiring even more people to learn, use and enjoy the Welsh language.

The Learn Welsh Ambassadors Scheme will be launched today (May 23) at the Urdd Eisteddfod on Anglesey, as part of the Eisteddfod’s ‘Learners’ Day’ celebrations.

Four high-profile ambassadors have been appointed to the new scheme:

Aleighcia Scott – singer and DJ, and one of the mentors on S4C’s talent show Y Llais, who will also be honoured with the Green robe at Eisteddfod Genedlaethol y Garreg Las in August.
Tori James – adventurer and the first Welsh woman to climb Mount Everest.
Katie Owen – DJ and social media influencer.
Ian Gwyn Hughes – Head of Public Relations at the Football Association of Wales.

The four ambassadors will represent the Centre, sharing their personal experiences of the Welsh language, and promoting the work of the Learn Welsh sector. They will also support recruitment campaigns, encouraging people from all backgrounds to begin learning Welsh, or to continue their language journey.

The scheme reflects the Centre’s vision to attract and support a wide range of audiences to learn and use Welsh, including workforces, communities, key sectors such as Health and Social Care, the Education Workforce and Sport, young people and families.

The Centre is launching the scheme at the Urdd Eisteddfod. It works in partnership with the Urdd to provide a range of opportunities for the organisation’s staff, and the young people using its services, to strengthen their Welsh language skills or to begin learning the language.

The Centre is also pleased to support the Urdd’s medals for young Welsh learners, the Bobi Jones Medal for learners aged 19 years’ old and above, and the Learners’ Medal for learners aged under 19 years.

Dona Lewis, Chief Executive of the National Centre for Learning Welsh, said: “Creating new Welsh speakers is the Centre’s main aim, supporting them to use and enjoy the language with confidence in their everyday lives.

“I’m pleased to say the Learn Welsh sector is going from strength to strength, with more people than ever completing our courses.

“We’re delighted to welcome a group of passionate ambassadors who will share their experiences of the Welsh language and help promote and celebrate our work. We’re proud to launch this new scheme at the Urdd Eisteddfod, one of our partners.

“The Centre works creatively and in partnership across different sectors, providing one, single learning pathway to becoming a Welsh speaker. We are all here to welcome and support our learners and new speakers at every stage of their language journey.”

Aleighcia Scott said: “I’m delighted to take part in this scheme. Learning Welsh has been an important personal journey for me, and it has opened new doors – both creatively and socially.”

Tori James said: “Learning a new skill can be a bit like climbing a mountain – it can be a challenge, but every small step is a success!

“I’m very pleased to have the opportunity to support people to take their first step into learning Welsh, and to keep going – it’s a journey well worth taking.”

Katie Owen said: “I’d always wanted to learn Welsh, and it has been the best thing I’ve done. The Welsh-speaking community is so welcoming, and the National Centre for Learning Welsh offers so many opportunities to learn and use the language.”

Ian Gwyn Hughes said: “Welsh belongs to all of us, and it has been fantastic to see the positive response to our use of the language at the Football Association of Wales. I look forward to supporting the Centre’s work to extend the use of Welsh in all kinds of contexts.”

Cymraeg

Welsh language report says students face mixed experiences across colleges and universities

Published

2 weeks ago

May 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A NEW report has found that Welsh-speaking students face inconsistent access to Welsh language services across Wales’ colleges and universities.

The research, published by the Welsh Language Commissioner on Monday (May 25), gathered responses from more than 1,500 further and higher education students.

It examined four key areas: whether students can submit written work in Welsh, choose accommodation with Welsh-speaking students, access a Welsh-speaking personal tutor, and receive wellbeing support through the medium of Welsh.

The report also looked at the wider language culture on campuses, including how institutions promote Welsh language services and support students to use Welsh naturally in academic and social settings.

Osian Llywelyn, Deputy Welsh Language Commissioner, said colleges and universities had a vital role in helping students use Welsh as part of everyday life.

He said: “Given the importance of sustaining and developing the continued use of the Welsh language, it is essential to recognise the key role that further education colleges and higher education institutions play in ensuring that students have the opportunity to use Welsh naturally as part of their academic and social lives.

“While it is encouraging to see strong examples of good practice, that experience is not consistent across the sector. As a result, we have identified clear improvement actions, and we will be asking the relevant institutions to address them.”

Five improvement actions have been identified. These include standardising Welsh-medium assessment arrangements, proactively offering Welsh language services rather than simply making them available on request, addressing gaps in workforce Welsh-language skills, strengthening students’ sense of belonging through Welsh, and improving self-assessment and monitoring.

James Owen, Chief Executive of Medr, the body responsible for funding and regulating tertiary education in Wales, said the findings showed the need for more support across the sector.

He said Medr’s new Welsh Language Condition would place a clearer focus on providers promoting and supporting the use of Cymraeg, and on creating formal and informal opportunities for staff and learners to develop their Welsh-language skills.

Ioan Matthews, Chief Executive of Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, said students’ experiences of Welsh at college or university could influence their willingness and ability to use the language later in the workplace.

He said the report showed the need for the Welsh-language experience to extend “well beyond the classroom”.

The report will be officially launched at the Welsh Language Commissioner’s stand at the Urdd Eisteddfod in Anglesey at 11:00am on Monday (May 25).