Welsh tourism execs promising Canadians a warm welcome in Cardiff

Tourism executives from Wales were in Canada last week, getting the word out about WestJet’s upcoming launch of its new seasonal flights to Cardiff in May of this year and letting Canadian travel advisors and tour operators know just exactly what Wales has to offer their clients.

Visit Wales’ Stephen Nase and Cardiff Airport’s Lee Smith and Wayne Moye delivered that message to travel trade types in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto and they were well pleased with the reception they received from the travel trade here in Canada.

And there is certainly lots of excitement about WestJet’s new non-stop Toronto-Cardiff flights, launching on May 22, 2026, as the launch of that service marks the first direct air connection between Wales and Canada in nearly two decades.

During a visit to Travel Press Today’s offices in Toronto, Visit Wales’ Stephen Nase observed: “This is the first flight to Wales from anywhere in North America in 17 years, so we’re pretty excited about it and we very much want it to succeed and we’re trying to do everything we can to make that happen.”

And Wales certainly has a lot to offer Canadian visitors, with Nase telling TPT that: What I’m promoting to North Americans is it’s the history, the culture, the people. It’s the land of castles – there are more castles per square mile than anywhere in Europe.”

Lee Smith, Head of Business Development for Cardiff Airport, said: “I think it’s the U.K’s undiscovered Celtic nation,” pointing to the homeliness and authenticity of the smaller towns, the coastal towns and its distilleries as but a few of the attributes that recommend Wales to visitors.

WestJet’s seasonal, four times per week service to Cardiff will operate from May to September, with Smith pointing out that along with transporting Canadian travellers for their holidays in Wales, Cardiff Airport is the closest airport to Bath, the Cotswolds as well as Devon and Cornwall, opening up the South West of the U.K. for those same Canadian travellers to explore.

When WestJet announced its new service to Cardiff back in November, Jon Bridge, Chief Executive Officer of Cardiff Airport, observed at the time that: “This new Toronto route marks an exciting milestone in our growth and a major step forward in reconnecting Wales with North America. It will strengthen tourism, create new opportunities for trade and investment, and showcase Wales on the global stage.”

And Bridge added: “WestJet’s confidence in Cardiff reflects the growing demand for international travel from Wales, the South West of England, and the Midlands and we look forward to building a long-term partnership that delivers lasting benefits for both nations.”

And Eluned Morgan, First Minister of Wales, said that WestJet’s new service “is welcome news for passengers, businesses and our tourism industries, both in Wales and Canada. With good connections to other Canadian cities, the new Toronto route will open up new economic opportunities for Wales in North America.”

Wales’ First Minister also pointed out that: “We have around 35 Canadian companies in Wales, employing around 6,500 people, while Canada is an export market worth over £300m a year. Ahead of our Wales Investment Summit on 1st December, this is a positive example of how we are opening up international opportunities for people and businesses in Wales.”

And, under the heading of timing is everything, WestJet is launching its new seasonal route just ahead of Canada’s co-hosting of the FIFA World Cup 2026, providing new opportunities for tourism, business, and cultural exchange between Wales and North America.

Go to www.cardiff-airport.com or www.traveltrade.visitwales.com for more.