Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:38 pm on 4 October 2022.
Dawn Bowden
Labour
4:38,
4 October 2022
Thank you, Mabon, for that question. I think that that's a hugely important point, developing these sites, having a world heritage site on our doorstep, an inscribed world heritage site—well, not just one, but four in Wales—two in that part of Wales, and everything that that brings. So, yes, it is about acknowledging and recognising our history and the importance of that history, not just to Wales but to the world, as you quite rightly pointed out, but it is about developing the economy of those areas, because these are post-industrial areas that have suffered heavily as a result of the loss of those industries. And, again, I refer to the area that I represent, after the coal and iron industries went—and my colleague here from Blaenau Gwent has a similar situation—we are still dealing with the legacy of post-industrial decline, so if we can develop tourism in an area like north-west Wales that shines a light on its history and brings people there to celebrate that history with us, then that has to be good for the local economy, and if the local economy is developing, then everybody benefits. What I can't say to you is in pounds, shillings and pence, how much everybody gets as a result of that. But if a local economy is thriving, then the people that live within that should be beneficiaries of that thriving economy, and that is the overall objective.
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