Touring North Wales with Xiaomanyc
Arieh has a following of up to 17million followers. When he offered Celticos the opportunity to design a tour of Wales I jumped at the chance! I had a clear idea, to create a connection between him and the local Welsh community. Rather than typical tourist attractions, I wanted to showcase the spirit of North Wales through some unique interactions with our people.
The itinerary included:
Culinary exploration of traditional Welsh foods and local specialties
Rugby immersion with the professional team RGC, experiencing Wales' most beloved sport
Maritime adventure exploring the Menai Straits with Rib Ride
Agricultural heritage meeting renowned YouTube farmer Gareth Wyn Jones—an unforgettable encounter
Engagement joining a local Welsh rowing team out to North Stack. Walking around our local town Caernarfon, which has the highest population of Welsh speakers
My goal was to help Arieh experience Wales as the fun and welcoming country it truly is. Visit Wales' campaign perfectly captures this with "hwyl" our Welsh word for "fun" . Arieh did such a great job at capturing his experience here in Wales, he's a true pro!
What struck me most was Arieh's remarkable ability to connect with Welsh people. His dedication to learning our language was extraordinary, achieving significant progress in just four weeks demonstrated his genuine respect for our culture. We were also blessed with exceptional weather during his visit, which helped showcase Wales at it’s best!
Throughout the experience, Arieh's humility and kind-hearted nature shone through. During the collaborative editing process, he actively sought feedback from all participants, ensuring everyone felt represented and satisfied with the final product. This really reflected his strong values and commitment to ethical storytelling.
Impact and Reception
The adventure's documentation has been a great success:
1.5 million views in just three months
Overwhelmingly positive response from viewers worldwide
Comments praising Arieh's respectful approach to Welsh culture
Significant tourism impact with many noting his role in "putting Wales on the map"
Arieh's genuine interest in our language and culture seemed to resonate well with audiences. His goal to showcase Wales positively was not only achieved but exceeded expectations!
Looking Forward
Working with Xiaoma has been an huge privilege. The warm welcome he received from our community, combined with the positive global response has been brilliant. I hope Wales will welcome Arieh back again. This experience has been truly unforgettable—not just for us, but for the millions who joined our journey through the screen. Diolch Arieh!
