<p>Economic Development in West Wales</p>

Part of 2. 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure – in the Senedd at 1:37 pm on 19 July 2017.

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Photo of Ken Skates Ken Skates Labour 1:37, 19 July 2017

I’d agree with the Member that our national parks do need to work in partnership with the businesses that are located within them. We do see, in many parts of Wales, very proactive national parks working effectively and very efficiently with businesses in the spirit of partnership. With regard to the national park in Pembrokeshire, I think there has been a concerted effort by the park to take advantage of the Year of Legends and the forthcoming Year of the Sea, working in partnership with the local authority and crucially with businesses.

The Member is absolutely right that the park must be proactive in reaching out to businesses and in assisting businesses to—I was going to say, ‘exploit’—take advantage and work with the park to draw more visitors in and to make sure that visitors stay for longer. There are some phenomenal attractions on the Pembrokeshire coast. That’s why I go there every summer for my personal and private holiday with my family. It’s an amazing place, but we’d like to translate more day visits and weekend visits into week-long visits, and you can only do that by having a partnership approach that brings together all businesses and brings together those providers of attractions and events.