Christine Gwyther, AM for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, and chair of the Economic Development Committee, recently sampled some of the best of the tourism product in her constituency, with the help of the Wales Tourist Board (WTB).
Ms. Gwyther visited Lillimoor Farm Holidays, a three star guesthouse and five star cottages, and St. Govan's Country Inn, a bar, restaurant and guesthouse in the village of Bosherston.
The visit enabled her to see at first hand how Welsh Assembly Government investment - via Wales Tourist Board grants - is helping tourism businesses to improve their services and meet visitor expectations.
The Wales Tourist Board is unique within the UK in that it is the only national tourist board that has the remit and the funding to invest in developing the tourism product as well as marketing the destination. The benefits to tourism businesses are substantial; WTB is in a position to support innovative projects with hard cash, up to 50 per cent of the total capital cost.
Last year £10.7m. of public funding was allocated to 370 individual projects in Wales, generating a total of £34.3m. and 1,240 full-time equivalent jobs. Over 31.9m. was invested in Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire.
Her tour kicked off a Lillimoor Farm Holidays, St. Florence. Over the last two years the WTB has awarded over £35,000 to build self-catering cottages, upgrade B&B facilities, and assist with the construction costs of an all-weather tennis court.
Brendan Cokell, the owner, explained the difference the WTB grant has made: "The grants have enabled us to offer five star accommodation with furnishings of the expected standard for high spending guests. It has been of benefit to the community in that our visitors use local pubs and restaurants providing business out of the main school holiday season.
"The all-weather tennis court is a most popular addition to our facilities. We also hope to eventually construct an indoor swimming pool and fitness room."
St. Govan's Country Inn, Bosherston, was awarded £30,000 by the Wales Tourist Board to assist with the costs of doubling the size of the kitchen, renovating the bar/restaurant area and converting the upstairs into four en suite bedrooms.
It was bought two years ago and the owner's hope was to transform it so that visitors could be offered a high-quality experience in terms of welcome, food, drink and accommodation.
Christine Gwyther, AM, commented: "I was delighted to have the opportunity to see the hard work, energy and commitment that the businesses of Pembrokeshire are investing in improving their product.
"I hope that they have the success that they deserve and that the tourism profile of Pembrokeshire and Wales in general, continues to rise."