Earlier this week, local Assembly Member Paul Davies attended the Wales Tourism Alliance and The Caravan Club Reception at the Senedd. Paul met with tourism representatives and operators from all over Pembrokeshire to celebrate the industry and to discuss some of the issues facing the tourist industry in the local area.

The Caravan Club's new Director General, Nick Lomas, recently presented a symbolic cheque for £114m to the Welsh Assembly Government's Tourism Minister Alun Ffred Jones on Wednesday (7th ) at the Senedd to emphasise the economic contribution of sites such as Lleithyr Meadow to the local communities. Over £2.7m of consumer spending has been pumped into the economy of Pembrokeshire in the last five years, thanks to the ever-increasing popularity of Lleithyr Meadow Caravan Club site- and the Club promise there is much more to come.

The Lleithyr Meadow site contribute more than 62,000 bed nights to the economy of Wales and visitors to the site chip in some £554,000 a year to tills in local shops, pubs, restaurants and tourist attractions. The Caravan Club estimate that each year their members bring around £22m into Wales and, when this is added to the Club's direct infrastructural investment of nearly £1m a year, the five-year tally for the economy of Wales bursts comfortably through the £100m mark.

Paul Davies said, "I was very pleased to attend this event. It was a great opportunity to meet some of the local tourism operators in Pembrokeshire and to hear of their hard work. The tourism industry, like all other industries has been affected by the difficult economic times and this was a great forum for tourism representatives to voice their concerns and for us to address some of their issues.

"It was also a great opportunity to meet Nick Lomas and listen to how almost £5million has been invested into the local economy. The Caravan Club have proven that they can provide a fun-filled family holiday and a great alternative to travelling abroad.

"The tourism industry in Pembrokeshire is extremely important to the local economy and the Welsh economy and I will continue to raise tourism concerns in the Chamber and help promote the wonderful resources Pembrokeshire has to offer."

*PIC CAP – Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies is pictured at the Senedd with The Caravan Club's new Director General, Nick Lomas.