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Holiday bookings booming in Pembrokeshire

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A HOLIDAY lettings agency is posting a remarkable increase in booking numbers for the first quarter of the 2017/2018.

FBM Holidays, based in Tenby, have seen a rise of 22% in bookings made from November 1, 2017 to the end of January 2018.

The hike in bookings has been forecast for a while, driven by an expected increase in international visitors taking advantage of the value of the Euro to the Pound, as well as a rise in ‘Staycations’ due to Brexit and other factors.

However, FBM Holidays have been growing their booking figures for well over 6 months now, helping them achieve higher overall figures year-on-year for 2016/2017.

Tenby-based FBM Holidays, with a holiday rental history dating back to 1899, has invested a large heavily in resources that benefit both customers and holiday property owners in Pembrokeshire and West Carmarthenshire, and as such has seen a huge influx in the number of holiday home owners renting through their Pembrokeshire office.

Thom James: Marketing Executive at FBM Holidays

Marketing Executive Thom James has looked at the booking numbers from year to year, and found that holiday rental companies have to move with the industry in order to grow.

Speaking about the boom in Q1 figures for this year, he said: “Bookings in general have been fantastic this year, which has continued the trend from the second half of last year. We’ve invested a lot of time in our online booking platforms, our promotion of Pembrokeshire as a destination and also in our customer service team, who are retained all-year round, who have excellent local knowledge of all rental areas we cover and who provide what we feel is an exceptional service for our customers.

“We work very closely with our owners and we have put a huge emphasis on getting a line of best fit that suits our holidaymakers and owners to provide the best packages and we feel this has paid off, as bookings have increased exponentially.

“We are well placed in Pembrokeshire and west Wales in general to drive booking figures even further forward, and our wider impact on the promotion of Pembrokeshire as a destination has seen us nominated for two awards this year – the West Wales Business Awards and the Pembrokeshire Tourism Awards.”

The company has said they will continue to invest in marketing the region and their fantastic holiday lets to a high standard and with the prospect of continued success, they are looking out for more and more owners who want to holiday let due to phenomenal demand and widening customer base.

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

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THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

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Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

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PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

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Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

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ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.

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