The Council can now confirm the total footfall figure for Pontypridd Town Centre for the eight-day period of the National Eisteddfod of Wales.
During the festival (August 3-10), the total footfall figure recorded in the town was 186,012 – representing a huge increase of 119,747 in comparison to the previous week, and a similarly-large increase of 115,554 when compared to the same week last year. The busiest day was Friday, August 9, with a footfall figure of 39,155.
The same system was used in the Eisteddfod week as during the Council’s regular recordings of footfall in Pontypridd Town Centre. So the difference in visitor numbers when compared to the previous week, and the same week last year, demonstrates a significant increase brought by the Eisteddfod.
Councillor Mark Norris, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Development and Prosperity, said: “Pontypridd and Rhondda Cynon Taf hosted a brilliant and successful National Eisteddfod of Wales that everyone can be proud of. The festivities in Pontypridd really represented a whole-town event – across the Maes, supporting sites, and throughout the town centre.
“The confirmed footfall figures give us a useful indication of the town centre visitor numbers during the event, in comparison to the previous week and the same week last year. Under the same recording system, almost 120,000 more people visited Pontypridd Town Centre in comparison to the week before the Eisteddfod – and it’s important to add that, even when you don’t consider the Eisteddfod week, Pontypridd is already bucking the national trend with its increasing footfall and is well below the national trend for empty shops.
“I’d like to thank local businesses in particular for really buying into the festival – representing Pontypridd fantastically well, and providing a warm welcome to visitors in the backdrop of a colourful high street full of bunting and banners. The increased footfall figures suggest that the Eisteddfod brought tens of thousands of extra visitors to the retail area, serving as a boost to traders.”
Posted on 20/08/2024