'No support' for region's tourism

The Welsh Assembly Government denied there was a problem

The Welsh Assembly Government is "abandoning" tourism in mid Wales, the leader of the Welsh Conservatives has claimed.

Nick Bourne said the region had received �84,000 in grants since April 2008, but the rest of Wales had benefited from nearly �3m.

He said mid Wales was missing out on the single investment fund which helps hotels, pubs, guest houses and shops.

The assembly government denied regions were given preference over each other.

Mr Bourne, AM for Mid and West Wales, said: "The fact that the mid Wales economy is heavily reliant on tourism seems to have escaped the assembly government.

"I am astonished ministers have given so little to the region to improve its tourism industry and attract even more visitors."

There are a number of significant tourism investment projects, in the mid Wales area, currently being considered

Welsh Assembly Government

He added: "Thousands of jobs in mid Wales alone rely on the tourism industry, yet all evidence points to the fact that the assembly government is unwilling or unable to support them."

Mr Bourne said figures showed the single investment fund and associated schemes had offered �84,000 to tourism business in mid Wales since April 2008.

However, tourism businesses in the rest of Wales received nearly �3m during the same period.

The figures were published after the Welsh Conservatives used an assembly debate to demand greater government support for the industry.

A Welsh Assembly Government spokeswoman said: "Most of Powys is defined as a non-assisted area, which limits the level of intervention compared to other assisted areas.

"There is, however, no deliberate selection of investment projects for one region in preference to another."

'Much discontent'

The spokeswoman said the single investment fund was dependant on businesses making applications for investment.

She added: "There are a number of significant tourism investment projects, in the mid Wales area, currently being considered."

Punch Maughan, of Brecon Beacons Tourism, which has 140 members, said businesses in Powys could only apply for up to 15% from the single investment fund because the county was in a "non-assisted area".

She added: "It causes much discontent, especially when you can go a few miles down the road to Abergavenny and businesses can access up to 50%.

"This is the difference between upgrading and not upgrading your business."