2. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on what the Welsh Government is doing to promote Pembrokeshire as a tourism destination? OAQ(5)0128(EI)

Yes. Pembrokeshire is a vital part of Wales’s overall tourism offering. Our marketing activities feature tourism attractions and products in Pembrokeshire, alongside all the other parts of Wales.

Cabinet Secretary, as you’re no doubt aware, the city of St David’s, the smallest city in Britain, is developing a bid for the UK city of culture in 2021, which, if successful, would significantly promote Pembrokeshire as a tourism destination. Given that this year is the Year of Legends, which obviously is aimed at enriching and promoting culture in Wales, what support can the Welsh Government offer to the city of St David’s to help it strengthen its bid for the UK city of culture?

Can I thank Paul Davies for his question and tell him that Pembrokeshire is actually the destination of my regular summer holidays? I believe it’s one of the prettiest and one of the most attractive parts not just of Wales but of Europe. The Pembrokeshire destination partnership, I’m pleased to say, has been able to secure significant resource this year as part of a south-west Wales Year of Legends campaign that brings together various local authorities to celebrate the legends across the region.

I also believe that next year provides a golden opportunity to Pembrokeshire, the Year of the Sea. I can envisage a number of spectacular events and new products being funded by the Government through the tourism investment support scheme and through other financial measures.

I’m very aware that St David’s is looking at bidding for city of culture status. This would be a magnificent coup if they could secure it. I am also aware that Swansea is investigating a possible bid as well. I will be meeting with the respective organisers in the coming weeks. Although I cannot say at this moment that I am able to prefer one bid over another, I can say that if there is a bid that is taken forward by one and not the other, it would have the support of the Welsh Government.