Visit Swansea Bay Surfari Bus Tour has kicked off at Oxwich Bay on 4 August for holiday-goers to enjoy a month-long tour of Wales and Ireland and to promote the area as a key destination during Wales’ “Year of the Sea”.

The first stop of the Surfari Bus tour was Oxwich Bay in the Gower Peninsula where beachgoers were encouraged to take a ‘surfie’ in the giant #SeaSwanseaBay deckchair. Guests can also try a new activity in the blue waters of Oxwich Bay, with the team from Oxwich Watersports that treated visitors to a full day of free sessions of kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding.

Guests who were confident of their skills entered competitions available exclusively at the Surfari Bus to win prizes including three nights of luxury glamping at Three Cliffs Holiday Park; an annual family pass at the Gower Heritage Centre; a day exploring with Gower Tours, and an evening meal at Parc-le-Breos House.

Councillor Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea’s cabinet member for investment, regeneration and tourism, said: “Most people living in Swansea Bay, Mumbles and Gower know just how special the area is. Our Surfari Bus tour will help visitors already here to get the most out of their stay, whilst inspiring potential new visitors from around Wales and Ireland to visit.”

“Recent figures show tourism was worth GBP 417.85m to our area last year which was an increase of 1.7% in 2016, with over 4.6m visitors enjoying a Swansea Bay break –  and, as well as welcoming repeat visitors, we’re also looking forward to welcoming new visitors to the area as they follow the Surfari Bus back to Swansea Bay,” he added.

The road trip continues with a two-week tour of Swansea Bay, Mumbles and Gower, taking in the National Waterfront Museum (8th), Oystermouth Castle (11th), Caswell Bay (14th) and Rhossili Bay (19th), among other locations.

Leaving Swansea Bay, the Surfari Bus will travel along the Wales Way to seven locations in seven days including Brecon, Aberystwyth, Machynlleth and Portmeirion, before wrapping up the Welsh stage of the Surfari Bus tour in Llandudno, ahead of the short hop across the Irish Sea where it finally completes its journey in Kilkenny on 2 September.