MORE than 40 Welsh heritage landmarks are helping to boost the Welsh economy by up to £19m a year, according to new research published today.

Blaenavon ironworks and Caerphilly Castle are amongst the list of Welsh attractions included in the Heritage Tourism Project run by Cadw which has also helped to support more than 1,000 full time jobs.

The findings have been revealed following an evaluation of Cadw’s multi-million pound Heritage Tourism Project (HTP).

The project launched in 2009 has supported more than 40 historic sites across Wales to deliver improvements and boost visitor numbers.

According to Cadw, the ironworks in Blaenavon, which was granted World Heritage status in 2000, are the best preserved 18th century ironworks in the world. Visitor numbers at the ironworks surged by 14 per cent from 19,290 in August 2013 to 22,040 in August this year, according to new figures.

Ironworks lead custodian Pru Williams, 44, said yesterday: "We have visitors from all over the world.

"We are hoping this will bring more awareness of the site here. It seems to be working."

Gaynor James, the chairwoman of Pontypool Community Council, added: “This is marvellous. It is going in the right direction. It is looking promising.”

Caerphilly Castle has also received funding as part of the HTP. The castle was constructed in the 13th century and occupies around 30 acres and is commonly cited as the second largest castle in Britain, after Windsor Castle. Earlier this year, Cadw invested £376,000 in Caerphilly Castle, which had 110,954 visitors last year.

Cllr Ken James, CCBC's Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Sustainable Development said, "We know that tourism continues to play a key role in helping boost the county borough's economy, and that tourism brought a massive £103 million into Caerphilly county borough last year alone".

He continued, "With ongoing investment from various sources - including Cadw, Welsh Government, Heritage Lottery Funding and council investment - our tourist attractions, which in addition to Caerphilly Castle include Blackwood Miners' Institute, Llancaiach Fawr, the Winding House and Cwmcarn Forest, are helping to attract more and more visitors to Caerphilly county borough".

Cadw said research by Cardiff University’s Business School’s Welsh Economy Research Unit indicated the economic impacts attributable to tourists visiting sites which have benefitted from the project could equate to up to £19m per year, in turn supporting more than 1,000 full-time jobs.

A Cadw spokesman said: “It has not been possible to assess the economic impact associated directly with the project; however, over the period November 2009 to August 2014, the initiative sites were associated with economic impacts of up to £19m gross value added annually supporting employment of up to around 1,030 full-time equivalent jobs.”

The full list of HTP sites include, Conwy Castle, Caernarfon Castle, Oystermouth Castle, St Davids Bishop’s Palace, Harlech Castle, Caerphilly Castle, Strata Florida, Segontium, Dyfi Furnace, Denbigh Castle, Blaenavon Ironworks, Barclodiad y Gawres, Bryn Celli Ddu, Hafod Copperworks, Carew Castle, Chapel Bay Fort, Castell Henllys, Carmarthen Castle, Swansea Castle, Dinefwr, Pembroke Castle, Carreg Cennen, Dolaucothi Gold Mine, Y Pigwn and Garn Goch, Carmarthen Amphitheatre, Carmarthen Museum, Black Mountains centred on Herbert’s Quarry, Limestone Heritage (Calch), Ceredigion Churches Heritage Trail, Llangollen Canal, Llangollen Horseshoe Falls, Princes of Gwynedd, Criccieth Castle, Mona Antiqua (Anglesey), Parys Mountain, Llanddwyn island, Llandudno Museum, Llechwedd Quarry, Great Orme Country Park and Great Orme Mines.