Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:37 pm on 28 March 2023.
The clocks have gone forward and spring is facing us. That's a cause of joy, and it raises the spirits of many of us. It's the start of the traditional tourism season, and of course that brings all sorts of opportunities and benefits to large parts of Wales. But there are some communities where this time of the year does mean the beginning of parking difficulties, littering, illegal camping, and great pressures on local infrastructure. Last week, I had a meeting with Capel Curig and Betws-y-coed community councils, as well as partners including Natural Resources Wales, Eryri national park, the National Trust and others, to discuss some of these challenges and concerns. Can I ask therefore for a statement from the Minister responsible for tourism on what the Welsh Government is doing to support these communities, perhaps by helping to improve infrastructure, ensuring that the relevant partners have the necessary resources to deal with problems, and also to help to protect the ecology of these areas? Because that is something that is damaged by some irresponsible visitors, who not only don't respect the rules but very often break the law.