I'm delighted to be able to speak in support of Tom Giffard's excellent proposal to create a Wales tourism Bill, and as already outlined here today, the Bill would create a new tourism board for Wales, certainly empowering the businesses of our tourism sector whilst unshackling their entrepreneurial spirit. We know—it's already been mentioned—the number of jobs that tourism supports here in Wales, and let's not forget the types of jobs we're talking about there: front-of-house roles in our hotels and attractions and areas of hospitality, but also those roles we often don't perhaps consider, such as the role of accountants, butchers and those in the supply chain that make such a difference in our communities. 

In the region I represent of North Wales, tourism supports 46,000 jobs and usually generates around £3.5 billion every year to our local economy. Creating an independent tourism board, giving those businesses more input into how Wales is marketed as a world-beating tourism destination, can only be a good thing, in my view, both for those businesses, but to Rhun ap Iorwerth's point as well, also for those communities, in making sure things are done properly in supporting those communities, supporting those jobs in those communities, creating those jobs, generating the wealth that we all want to see and those communities prospering. 

In my view, an independent board will have a better understanding of where investment is needed, how it can make the greatest impact, and how Government policy can best support our tourism sector. Perhaps it would remove some of that tension that we see at the moment from Visit Wales, where they're doing their best, I'm sure, but there's a tension there when it comes to Government policy because they are a Government arm. An independent board will be able to champion best practice for essentials like marketing and publicity, destination management and improved amenities, because we know that things like our public toilets being well maintained, sandy beaches and adequate parking are all really important factors for our visitors and local residents alike.

Today's motion, of course, proposes the transfer of power away from Visit Wales, part of the Welsh Government. I would have thought it was something that Welsh Government would be happy to embrace, because we know that Wales is home to countless world-beating tourist attractions and destinations, and empowering the best and brightest of these to champion Wales and everything we have to offer, in my view, can only be a good thing. These are the people who've been there, these are people who've done that, they've set their businesses up, they've created the jobs—let's empower them to do their best to promote Wales on a global stage as well.

So, with all this in mind, I'd like to encourage Members today to back this proposal, to champion our tourism sector, champion the jobs it creates, and champion the communities across Wales that it sustains as well. Diolch yn fawr iawn.