2. Will the Minister outline the financial support available for tourism projects in mid Wales? OAQ(5)0027(EI)

Yes. We operate three main schemes to support tourism projects: the tourism investment support scheme, otherwise known as TIS; the regional tourism engagement fund; and a tourism product innovation fund. These are pan-Wales schemes. The Welsh Government also looks to access various EU funding streams available to support tourism in Wales.

Thank you for your answer, Cabinet Secretary. The heritage hub for mid Wales project is an exciting new project in Newtown, which aims to forge a brand identity for mid Wales, through the exploitation of digital technology and the promotion of our culture, including paying tribute to the iconic social reformer, Robert Owen, famous to Newtown. Now, they’ve also promoted the project with Visit Wales, as part of the 2017 marketing campaign, the Year of Legends. Will you join me in lending your support for this project, and outline what assistance the Welsh Government can specifically provide to obtaining funding for this project in Newtown?

This is an excellent project that the Member highlights, and it fits well with the project that the Welsh Government is undertaking through Visit Wales to promote our heritage. The Member will be aware of the Cadw sites that were illuminated in red during the course of the European tournament recently, and we are keen to ensure that heritage is at the centre of our offer for visitors to Wales. In terms of the funding that may be available, it’s entirely possible, given the strong link to the Year of Legends—and I wouldn’t want to prejudge any application—that they’d wish to look to apply during next year’s round of funding, during 2017, for a grant through the tourism product innovation fund. I’ve been quite clear to applicants that I’d like to see far more innovation and creativity come forward in the form of applications for that type of funding, and I’d very much welcome one from the organisation the Member raises.

I actually think the Cabinet Secretary has just answered my question as well, but let me just go through it anyway. You’ll recall that I’ve previously raised the issue in this Chamber about the tourism industry in Wales, and our social and historical heritage—the industrial heritage particularly in constituencies like mine. And, so, I was pleased to learn about the Welsh Government’s announcement last year that the tourism marketing campaign for 2017 would celebrate the Year of Legends. As part of that campaign, tourism providers are being encouraged to create or to theme products or experiences, as I understand it, using Welsh legends as the inspiration, including our historic heroes. In my view, one such hero is Dic Penderyn, one of the leaders of the Merthyr rising in 1831, and the funding made available to support the Year of Legends initiative could potentially support a campaign in my constituency to have something like a statue erected to commemorate Dic Penderyn.

Now, the Welsh Government’s statement in April refers to funding being made available through the regional tourism engagement fund and the tourism product innovation fund, but the websites are now showing that the funds for applications are now closed for 2016-17. So, can the Minister confirm that funds will still be available to support initiatives under the Year of Legends marketing campaign and advise on what the source of that funding might be?

Yes. As I mentioned to Suzy Davies, there will be available funds for the next financial year, which will be available during 2017. The project that the Member raises today sounds a very innovative one; it’s something that I’m sure the destination manager—. I would advise the organisation that’s behind the initiative to actually make contact with their destination manager, because they’ll be able to give advice on how to promote the project right across the region.

In addition to the tourism product innovation fund, the Member highlighted the availability of resources through the regional tourism engagement fund, and, again, that’s something that the destination manager in the region will be able to advise on. And, there is also the possibility perhaps of liaising with the Arts Council of Wales to see whether that specific project might attract public art finance from the arts council.

Finally, going forward, we had a pledge in our manifesto to create a challenge fund for community arts and community sport, and I imagine this sort of project, where you’re able to generate interest and generate crowd-funded resources, would be suitable for match funding through the challenge fund.

To return to Newtown, another important part of the heritage of Newtown in Powys is the Montgomery canal. The First Minister said yesterday that canals are seen by the Welsh Government as part of our tourism offer, and, as there is a proposal by the people of Newtown to restore the old canal that runs through the town and which is part of the industrial history and heritage of Wales, of course, what assistance can the Welsh Government offer, given that this scheme was originally going to approach European funds?

The Member’s absolutely right; canals are vital for the tourism industry in Wales. I know that because the busiest of all canals in Britain runs through my own constituency—the Llangollen canal. And they are particularly attractive to foreign visitors, and we now have a record number of foreign visitors coming to Wales, spending a record amount here. I’d like that to continue. The point that the Member raises is an important one for mid Wales, and it’s one that Russell George has raised in the past. I met with the organisation that is looking to restore the canal. We’ve recently received details of the project, and I have asked officials to arrange a meeting with the local town council to establish the latest position with regard to the promotion and restoration of the canals in mid Wales.