Editing Glamorgan (section)

===Tourism===
Glamorgan, and Wales, were never exploited as a tourist destination until the late 18th century. The destination of choice for English gentlemen during the period was the [[Grand Tour]], but after conflicts in mainland Europe, British travellers looked for 'wild' destinations within their own country.<ref>Davies (2008), p.874</ref> These first tourists were important archivists in their writings, paintings and sketches but there was no real tourist trade to receive them. The coming of industrialisation in the early 19th century gave rise to a new prosperous middle-class and improved communications; both led to a burgeoning tourist trade.<ref name="Davies875">Davies (2008), p.875</ref> The late 19th century, with improving rail links, saw the coastal areas of Glamorgan that benefited from a beachfront grow as tourist destinations.<ref name="Davies875"/> These towns, most notably [[Barry Island]], Porthcawl, Aberavon and Mumbles, owed their existence as tourist locations to the development of the south Wales coal field and the introduction of the workers' annual holidays.<ref name="Davies875"/> By the mid 20th century these locations improved the number of visitors they could accommodate with the introduction of caravan parks and chalet parks.<ref name="Davies875"/>

As the 20th century progressed, and people's leisure activities extended beyond a once-a-year weeks holiday, the county responded with county parks, museums, art galleries and activity centres.