I've read Oscar's post and...don't really agree with all of it.
The fact is Llandudno is busier than it has been for many years. I've been told that certain Hoteliers have already taken more money this year than they did all last Season. There is no shortage of people visiting the town.
So..what are Llandudno's problems?
1) Large number of empty shops - A UK wide problem. High rent, high rates, chain retailers going out of business, growth of Internet sales are the reasons why. Only a combination of lower Rent & Rates can revitalise the main shopping streets.
2) Lack of tourist attractions/facilities - Llandudno has slowly lost a few attractions over the years and they have not been replaced. We need more indoor attractions, especially ones suitable for families with young children. Public spaces like Happy Valley are woefully underused - the dead hand of CCBC is responsible.
3) Decline in maintenance of public areas - a particular bugbear of mine. Broken pavements, unpainted railings, flowerbeds grassed over - all small things in themselves but which all add up to give an impression to visitors of a town in decline, a town with no civic pride. We must never forget that visitors always have the choice about where they can go for a break and a tatty seaside town will result in them going somewhere else next time.
4) Increasing visitor accommodation expectations not being met - Hotels like the Clarence and Tudno Castle Hotel gave up the ghost because of lack of investment over the years resulted in an accommodation experience that was less than appealing. Visitors are used to high standards in their own homes these days and will not accept anything less when on holiday. Llandudno Hotels need to raise their game.
Lastly, a question. I was walking along the Promenade this morning and musing to myself how little we hear from Llandudno Hoteliers on the decline in some aspects of the town. If my lifeblood was a Llandudno hotel, I would be raising hell about CCBC's treatment of the town. Yet we hear very little?