Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:50 pm on 2 May 2017.
I thank the Cabinet Secretary for his statement, and we in UKIP would like to congratulate all those involved in bringing this hugely prestigious event to Wales. The boost to the economy from the hundreds of thousands set to visit Cardiff will be substantial, and I would like to echo the Cabinet Secretary’s statement regarding the staging of one of the biggest events in the sporting calendar and its far-reaching effects in projecting the image of Wales as a distinct national identity worldwide, the effect of which cannot be overestimated. We can be sure that it will enhance Wales’ profile in a truly global context with a possible dramatic effect on our tourist industry over the ensuing years. It will, of course, also help to facilitate Welsh Government and the whole Assembly’s ambitions to sell the Wales brand across the globe, and the economic opportunities that that will produce. Can I take this point to commend the Welsh Government on its extensive preparation for this huge event, and we hope that the contingencies you’ve put in place will ensure that it will go off in the best possible way? Thank you.