Our Image Distribution Policy

All of the imagery held by the Visit Wales Image Centre (VWIC) is subject to Crown copyright. Crown copyright is controlled by the Office For Public Sector Information (OPSI).

As a body involved in the distribution of photographic imagery to internal and external users, we have been granted a licence, by OPSI, that determines to whom, and under what circumstances, we can deliver images.

To that end, our image distribution policy has two main sectors: Free Distribution and Commercial Distribution.

Free Distribution Sectors:

1. The Tourism Industry

VWIC has a remit to distribute imagery free-of-charge to the tourism industry. This is because these images were shot for this express purpose.

The Tourism Industry is defined as:

• Visit Wales, its staff, affiliates & tourism-promoting partners.
• Accommodation operators
• Tour operators
• Travel companies & agents
• The tourism media (ie: TV, internet, newspaper & magazines, etc) & other free-distribution publications

However the definition excludes commercial publishing ventures such as commercial guide books, encyclopedias, photo essays, etc. Requests such as these fall within our 'Commercial Distribution' sector (please see below for further details).

2. Welsh Government

Welsh Government Officers working on Welsh Government-branded projects may also use Visit wales imagery without charge. However, Officers may not request imagery to pass to non-affiliated 'third parties'.

Commercial Distribution Sector:

Outside of the aforementioned users that qualify for free distribution of imagery, VWIC will service & distribute imagery to other external users on a purely commercial basis.

Visit Wales Commercial Pricing

With a view to operating at nominal marketplace rates for photography, Visit Wales Image Centre is now a member of the British Association Of Picture Libraries & Agencies (BAPLA). As such, our commercial charges are based on BAPLA-researched average commercial photographic rates. Fixed-rate discounts are automatically applied to education & charity request.