Hosting a major event is important, not just because of the money spent whilst the event is taking place, but also because it focuses the world's attention on Wales and provides us with an opportunity to market the whole of Wales to visitors. And so we need to use that window to promote everything that Wales has to offer, not just the location of that event. For example, the recent WWE event in Cardiff was an opportunity for us to put Wales on the map internationally, to encourage visitors who came to Cardiff for the visit to explore outside the city centre and see other parts of Wales too.

Of course, a strong strategy for major events must draw together expertise, including partners in local government, the transport industry and even the private sector. The Welsh Government's strategy is right to say that:

'Understanding where stakeholders fit, regardless of size or tier, creates buy-in and operational efficiencies.'

And so I'm pleased to hear the Government accept that it's the private sector that is at the forefront of events delivery and can most directly realise the delivery aims of this strategy. Indeed, perhaps, in responding to this debate, the Minister will update us on how the Welsh Government is strengthening its relationship with the private sector in Wales to ensure the strategy is absolutely successful. 

Now, key to the successful implementation of the Welsh Government's strategy will be tracking the resources it's allocated and ensuring that those resources are used effectively. Now, of course, I'm conscious that the Minister doesn't have a magic money tree by which to support the sector. Nevertheless, where funding is allocated, taxpayers must be convinced that those resources are being used to genuinely deliver economic benefits for our country. There needs to be transparency in relation to Welsh Government investments, and Ministers need to be bold enough to accept when things aren't working and change direction.

My colleague Tom Giffard has been asking questions regarding the Welsh Government investment in the WWE ahead of their event in Cardiff in September and, whilst he's received a response that the funding package is subject to stringent, post-event monitoring, there is no information on what exactly that post-event monitoring looks like. It's not outrageous to want to understand exactly how much money the Welsh Government invested in this event and the criteria that was used to decide how much to invest. The taxpayer should know whether the criteria set has been met, and so perhaps the Minister will also use this opportunity to confirm whether or not that post-event monitoring has now taken place and what outcomes have been realised. 

The Welsh Government must also learn from its previous strategies and also from other countries across the UK and further afield. Scotland has used a portfolio approach to events and festivals, which allows for a variety of large and small sport and culture fixed, recurring and one-off events to be identified and supported, and we need to see more of that innovative approach here in Wales. We need a similar portfolio approach to help spread the benefits across the year and the country, as well as to encourage and nurture innovation and entrepreneurship.

We need to proactively research and identify events that Wales can develop, attract or bid for and, when opportunities come knocking, like in the case of hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in the UK, we need to be doing everything possible to promote hosting events like this here in Wales. Now, I understand that there were issues with Cardiff hosting the event, but the reality is that there is little evidence of the Welsh Government looking outside the capital city to host that event. More could and should have been done, and all locations in Wales should have been explored to bring this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to Wales, and yet there was very little evidence of an effort to bring this major event to another part of Wales. Indeed, we need to see much more of a can-do attitude when it comes to hosting major events. 

Llywydd, I just want to briefly mention Qatar 2022 and the platform that it offers for us to showcase Wales to the world. I understand the Minister, First Minister and the Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport will all attend each of Wales's group games against the USA, Iran and England, and it's absolutely crucial that the Welsh taxpayer sees value for money from these trips. Indeed, I hope the Minister will provide cast-iron assurances that there will be demonstrable outcomes as a result of these trips. Now, last week, the Minister said that the Welsh Government is

'implementing an enhanced marketing campaign that will focus on core target international markets across brand, business and tourism'.

As my colleague Tom Giffard rightly said, we need to know what the success of this campaign will look like. With £2.5 million given to the Lleisiau Cymru campaign, it's vital that the Welsh Government openly shows its spend and what that funding achieves.

Finally, Llywydd, Wales may be a small country, but we are a great one, and we must take every opportunity that comes our way to host major events and create legacies from events at home or, in the case of the football world cup, away. This is an area I believe where we are all team Wales. So, in closing, can I say that I look forward to hearing Members' contribution to this debate on how we can work to raise our profile internationally and maximise the opportunities that major events can bring here to Wales? I urge Members to support our motion.