A CHOIR of young men from Meirionnydd is set to travel across the North Sea to raise awareness of Welsh culture and language.

Côr Eryrod Meirion will fly to the Netherlands as part of a campaign to attract overseas visitors to Wales during out-of-season periods.

The trip is part of the Ffordd Cymru scheme led by Gwynedd Council and Visit Wales, which promotes three routes that represent the best of Welsh hospitality and attractions. They include the North Wales Way, The Cambrian Way and The Coastal Way, which extend across Wales incorporate the landmarks and landscapes that makes Wales unique.

As part of the tour, the 18-member choir will visit the Vakantiebeurs International Festival Fair in Utrecht city on January 18 to perform and release a ‘flash mob’ video.

Gareth Thomas, Gwynedd Council cabinet member for economic and community development, said: “The aim of this marketing campaign is to raise awareness of Wales in international markets and highlight the variety of attractions that can be enjoyed in locations such as Gwynedd and Wales throughout the year, so that visitors stay longer and spend more.

“Working with Côr Eryrod Meirion is an exciting opportunity for us to show that Wales is unique and that we are promoting our country as a major destination at an international festival.”

Cllr Thomas said “one of the main challenges” for marketing Wales in the tourism sector is to do so “in a simple, modern and attractive way”.

“It’s time to celebrate these features on a local, national and international stage, and being able to work with the Côr Eryrod Meirion allows us to do this,” he said.

Gwynedd Council is also leading Road Wales’ Regional Tourism Engagement project on behalf of the Welsh Government and North Wales county councils, as well as Ceredigion Council and Pembrokeshire County Council. The project is funded by the Welsh Government’s Regional Tourism Engagement Fund and is supported by the Rural Development Program 2014-2020.