Bid to make coastline playground of Europe (From Western Telegraph)

Bid to make coastline playground of Europe

MILFORD HAVEN was the departure point for a three-day fact-finding sailing trip by Minister for Economic Development, Andrew Davies, and Philip Evans, chairman of the Wales Tourist Board.

The two men set sail on Monday morning with plans to stop off at Fishguard for lunch before heading up the coast to north Wales.

The pair hope to meet up with watersports enthusiasts, business people and members of the tourist industry to discuss ways to promote the nation's coastline and the outdoor activities it could host.

Philip Evans said: "One of Wales' greatest opportunities lies in its coastline. We want to look at ways of it becoming the watersports playground of Europe.

Andrew Davies, who was in Brittany recently discussing a possible sailing race between the two countries, said: "Activity holidays are a major part of the tourism industry and they can give a huge boost to the Welsh economy. There is massive potential for growth here.

"For a small country we have a fantastic amount to offer," he said, while stressing the need to ensure any development along the coastline would not be to the detriment of tourist enterprises already operating along the water's edge.

He also emphasised the importance of the planned £30 million regeneration of Fishguard Harbour with a port and marina complex a central point of the Assembly-led North Pembrokeshire Regeneration Plan. He also confirmed that plans for a similar development in Pembroke Dock were still at an early stage of planning.

The Wales Tourist Board watersports action plan aims to increase spending on the country's facilities by 40% to over £200 million by 2010.

Mr Davies also took time to inspect the newly re-opened dry dock facility in Milford Haven, as he had played a part in ensuring it received the funding necessary to stay open.