Economic development and transport minister Andrew Davies AM was the keynote speaker at the BHA-sponsored dinner for delegates at the annual Wales Tourism Alliance Conference last week.

Held at the Metropole Hotel, Llandrindod Wells from Sunday 6 to Monday 7 November, this year’s conference drew over 100 delegates, many of whom braved hazardous weather conditions to arrive for the first day’s events.

Speaking at the dinner on the Sunday evening, Andrew Davies AM addressed the forthcoming ‘takeover’ of the Wales Tourist Board by the Assembly Government in April 2006, insisting that the WTB marketing function would be ‘ring-fenced’.

The dinner was followed by a charity auction for Ty Hafan Hospice and Hope House Children’s Hospice.

The conference opened on Sunday afternoon with a panel discussion on the future for Welsh tourism, led by Diana James of the Tourism Training Foundation for Wales and Professor John Lennon of the Moffat Centre.

Other panel members for the discussion included John Walsh Heron (vice chair of TTFW), Gareth Edwards from Springboard Wales, the manager of People First in Wales, Karen Long and the WTA Chair Julian Burrell.

In the afternoon of the Monday session, BHA National Executive chairman David Williams led discussions on the WTA’s Campaign to “Keep It Open, Keep It Clean” to ensure high quality public facilities for tourism, such as public toilets, street lighting and tourism information centers.

BHA chief executive Bob Cotton addressed the final topic of the conference, rounding up Local Authority Issues including licensing, planning and smoking in public places.

Members who are interested in ordering the conference edition of Twristiaeth magazine can call the BHA offices on +44 (0)207 404 7744