Plans for a world-class leisure resort in Swansea would bring 100 new permanent jobs in its first year as well as an £84million boost to the local economy by 2039 if it goes ahead, a report has claimed.
Skyline Swansea's proposals include plans for a gondola (cable car) route, gravity-fuelled Luge ride, a zipline, a sky swing, new walking and mountain bike trails, and food and drink outlets on Kilvey Hill. It is set to be constructed with sustainably-sourced material and built using local suppliers as much as possible.
The Welsh Government is to invest £4million in tourism attraction Skyline Swansea, and more backing is expected from Swansea Council. The £4 million contribution was described by officials as one of the largest investments in the tourism and hospitality sector in Wales for years.
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The economic impact report by leading economic development consultancy, Kada, has revealed that the proposed development would create 478 local construction jobs during the build phase and 100 permanent jobs in its first year of opening across all areas of the attraction - from catering to operations, apprenticeships to senior management.
It also revealed the development would contribute £84million to the local economy over the next 15 years. This includes an £11 million impact during the construction phase, £19 million in local employee spend and £54 million in visitor spend. You can read here how much Swansea residents will pay to use the Kilvey Hill gondolas.
Geoff McDonald, Skyline Enterprises chief executive officer, said: “We hope our economic impact report, compiled by independent consultants at Kada, gives a valuable indication of the financial benefits a Skyline development could bring to the region.
“What we also know to be true from our previous developments across New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Canada and Malaysia, yet what the report cannot quantify, is the value a Skyline site can bring to communities in the long-term.
“Through community partnerships, Skyline would support local education and training initiatives meaning those who previously had to relocate for careers in leisure and tourism could stay in their hometown; schools could access on-site, real-time lessons in engineering and technology in action; colleges and universities could access industry placements and work experience.
“As such, not only would Skyline Swansea provide an immediate boost to the local economy during construction, but the development would also support sustained prosperity in the area. We plan to recruit as many locals as possible if successful with proposals, and would champion long-term career development through apprenticeships, training opportunities, and managerial roles.
“These educational and professional benefits have proved invaluable to communities at other Skyline sites, and we’d hope to continue this trend of investment in local communities at our proposed Swansea site.”
To support local communities, schools and universities, Skyline aims to roll out various employment schemes throughout its construction and beyond, including engaging with the long-term unemployed, according to management. Apprenticeship schemes would be offered across construction, engineering and environmental science, as well as tourism and leisure management.
Mr McDonald added: “The proposals include some plans for seasonal workers, alongside long-term career opportunities for those wanting to work in management, hospitality, tourism and marketing. We’ll be looking to hire teams at all stages of their careers, from school leavers and university graduates through to senior management roles.
“As a result of this, profits would be funnelled back into the Swansea economy through employment and training, employee and visitor spend, and investment back into the site – contributing to economic growth in the area for decades to come. Overall, our goal is to create a world-class leisure destination that the local area can be proud of, serving visitors and locals alike.”
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