6. What discussions has the First Minister had regarding the closure of Adventure Parc Snowdonia? OQ59867

I thank the Member for that question, Llywydd. While I've had no formal discussions with the owner of Adventure Parc Snowdonia, Welsh Government officials are in regular contact and will work with others to secure an alternative future for this outstanding site and the remaining members of its very dedicated workforce.

Thank you. I'm glad—. I agree with those sentiments. Obviously, it's a major blow to the north Wales tourism sector that Adventure Parc Snowdonia—and this was the world’s first inland surfing park, with the highest waves in the world—has sadly closed. I was very supportive of this development from the outset. We loved the innovation and the fact that it was repurposing the old Dolgarrog aluminium works. Now, you invested £8 million, your Government invested £8 million, but this is just one of many businesses in my Constituency now that are facing massive, massive challenges under your Welsh Labour Government. As part of your co-operation agreement with Plaid Cymru, there's a real feeling between the industry that there is now a real sense of an anti-tourism agenda. Recent reports show that there are 30 per cent fewer visitors into Wales, and there's a real threat that more businesses will follow unless you and Plaid Cymru wake up to the fact that the tourism tax could be the final nail in the coffin of our much-valued industry.

At what stage, First Minister, irrespective of your co-operation agreement, will you stand up and actually address those in the hospitality industry that you actually do value them for the jobs that they provide, for the economic benefits that our tourism and hospitality sector bring to here in Wales? There isn't a single Member here who doesn't represent a constituency where there isn't a tourism industry, and, to be honest, some of the comments—

I think you do need to refer to your question—

Anyway, if the First Minister would just show some support for the industry.

—I think it was on Parc Antur Eryri. First Minister.

Well, Llywydd, I'm afraid the question's ranged far away from the adventure park itself. I'll reply just to three points that the Member had in her melange of a supplementary question.

First of all, the most recent figures show a significant increase in visitors to Wales: a 13 per cent increase between April and December 2021 and April and December 2022, and a 35 per cent increase in spend for tourists coming into Wales. So, that's the first thing. The doom and gloom view of tourism in Wales is of no help to the industry whatsoever when people work so hard in it, make a success of it, and when there are more visitors to Wales than ever before. 

As to the Welsh Government's efforts, quite apart from the millions of pounds that we invest in the industry every year, it may have escaped the Member's attention that on Friday of last week the Welsh Government won the grand prix award, the premier award of all, in the World Media Group awards. Now, the World Media Group is made up of The Economist, of Forbes, of National Geographic, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal. These are amongst the leading organisations in the world, and they have an annual series of awards for the promotion, the advertising and promotion campaigns that are run across the world. There were many winners on that Friday night—Volkswagen were amongst them, for example—but the chief prize, the chief prize across the world, went to the Welsh Government's tourism campaign, 'Wales to the World'. I know that the Welsh Conservatives hate it when anything nice is said about Wales, but cheer up just for a moment, because I would like to take seriously what you said, Janet, when you said that we all want to make a success of this industry. Here is what the chief executive, the person overseeing the awards evening, said:

'The Welsh Government did an amazing job bringing together different cultures and values in an integrated campaign that showcases Wales as a progressive nation with so much to offer.'

It would be really nice if once in a while we heard something similar from the Opposition benches.