Secretary of State for Wales Paul Murphy has been visiting Pembrokeshire to see how tourism in west Wales is developing into a year-round industry.

Mr Murphy visited two new venues aiming to extend the visitors' season to 12 months a year in Pembrokeshire - the £100million Bluestone development and Saundersfoot's St Bride's Hotel, which is now west Wales' first luxury destination spa hotel.

Bluestone, which is due to open later this year, will offer visitors a unique holiday experience in luxury log cabins, cottages and apartments set in 500 acres around a traditional Welsh village, providing leisure, retail, catering and other support services to guests.

Onsite facilities include the Blue Lagoon water park, the first indoor swimming pool in the UK to be heated by renewable biomass crops grown by local farmers, a sports pavilion, snow dome, cycle tracks, woodland walks and golf driving range.

Speaking during a tour of the site with Bluestone chief executive William McNamara and local MP Nick Ainger, Mr Murphy said: "Bluestone is set to be a massive draw to the area, and unique in the way it actively encourages guests to explore other activities and attractions across Pembrokeshire.

"Bluestone will also give a massive boost to the local economy. It is also set to become the largest private-sector employer in Pembrokeshire, employing more than 400 local people in full time, year-round jobs."

He then went on to the St Bride's Hotel, which reopened in 2006 following a multi-million pound transformation from a former traditional seaside hotel into a luxury spa retreat, providing fine dining and a marine therapy spa for guests all year round.

Mr Murphy added: "High-quality destinations such as St Bride's Hotel and Bluestone are set to transform tourism in Pembrokeshire. While visitors can make the most of one of the UK's most beautiful coastal counties, they can now find alternatives to the traditional bucket-and-spade holidays that will ensure Pembrokeshire appeals as a tourist destination all year round.

"West Wales has a lot to offer all sorts of tourists. While it still retains the natural attractions that have always made it a seaside favourite of families, it now has even more to offer a wider audience."