3. Will the First Minister make a statement on the sustainability of the tourism sector in north Wales? OQ56750

Diolch. We published our tourism recovery plan, 'Let's Shape the Future', earlier this year. The plan outlines an approach to partnership working to reconstruct a resilient future for our visitor economy. Financial support packages and a return to proactive Visit Wales marketing will support the sector through the coming months.

I'm pleased to hear you talking about a resilient future for the sector, because tourism is a key sector for us in north Wales, as it is in other parts of Wales, of course. But striking that right balance between tourism that brings benefits to our community and too much tourism, which brings negative impact, where the local infrastructure can't cope with the demand placed on it, is a crucial issue. Having seen the impact of too much tourism in certain areas of north Wales over the past 12 months, having that broader debate on what we want from tourism is very important—that national conversation about to what benefit and to what purpose we want to develop the sector. So, would you agree with me that it's important to hold that debate before we create a new national park in north Wales, which could, of course, lead to repeating some of the problems in terms of overtourism that we've seen in north Wales?

Thank you. You raise a very important point around balance. I should say that the new national park was in the Labour Party manifesto on which we were elected in May. I have to say, and I'm sure Llyr will agree with this, certainly on the doorstep, it was something that people wanted to talk about, so I think people are excited about it. But you are absolutely right; we do need to get that balance. Certainly, I think, last summer, and perhaps at the beginning of the pandemic as well, we did see—. In Snowdonia, for instance, I know there were issues around people wanting to walk. It was really important that we had that behavioural campaign, Addo. It's been very welcomed by the sector in encouraging positive public behaviour, so that we can reopen our tourism sector in a safe way. I think that will also support responsible tourism as we come into the summer period now. And, as I say, we've got the proactive Visit Wales marketing campaigns. They're on hand to support the sector over the coming months too.

Minister, one of the concerns that have been raised with me by tourism and hospitality businesses has been the lack of financial support for those businesses whose staff are required to self-isolate—often very small businesses indeed. For example, I had a pub in my own constituency recently where one member of staff tested positive for the coronavirus and, as a result, all of the members of staff then had a contact message to say that they needed to self-isolate. That meant that that business had to then close for the duration of the self-isolation period and had no income. It had to cancel all of its bookings. And yet, there is no financial support available for businesses in those circumstances. What consideration will the Welsh Government give to creating some sort of safety net for businesses that are in that particular position, particularly those small businesses like tourism operators and hospitality businesses in my constituency that have been affected in this way?

I think that's a very important point, because we want people to self-isolate, don't we, so it is really important that we are able to support them as best we can. Obviously, north Wales businesses have received a significant amount of funding, particularly from the unique-to-Wales economic resilience fund. I'm not aware of any discussions that the Minister for Economy is having in relation to that, but I'm sure he's in the Chamber to hear your comments.

Minister, you'll be aware of the importance of the heritage tourism sector to north Wales. It's vitally important in a number of areas in Clwyd South, including in Llangollen and in Brymbo. Minister, could you commit to ensuring that the Welsh Government remains committed to investing in the heritage tourism sector so that future jobs can be sustained and that more jobs can be created?

Thank you. Obviously, I'm very aware of the outstanding industrial heritage that we have in our part of north-east Wales and right across north Wales. I'm sure you're aware that officials in Cadw have been a key part of the group that's been looking at the nomination for the slate landscape of north-west Wales. It's been nominated as a world heritage site and I understand that there's a decision either later this month or certainly next month. If it's considered by UNESCO to be so, it will be very successful in joining the Pontcysyllte aqueduct and canal in your own constituency as a second industrial world heritage site, and we certainly wish them well with that.

In relation to Brymbo, I have visited the ironworks heritage site—again, that's in your constituency—and we've been involved in close negotiations about allowing the release of funding to support them. We've also been working with local volunteers on educational resources to promote the industrial heritage in Greenfield Valley, just over the border from us in Flintshire.