Tourism businesses in mid Wales are failing to receive a fair share of Welsh Assembly Government investment, according to Nick Bourne, leader of the Welsh Conservatives.

Figures released by Bourne, assembly member for Mid and West Wales, reveal that just £84,000 has been offered to the region's tourism industry since April 2008 under the Welsh Assembly Government's Single Investment Fund (SIF). Pubs, restaurants, guest houses and hotels in other Welsh regions have received a share of almost £3m during the same period, with North Wales businesses receiving more than six times more than mid Wales.

However, the figure includes grants made under a previous scheme, including Section 4 Tourism Grants, which continued to be offered until the end of June 2008. A further 18 tourism-related SIF applications worth £4.3m are currently being appraised. Bourne said: "The fact that the mid Wales economy is heavily reliant on tourism seems to have escaped the Assembly government. I am astonished ministers have given so little to the region to improve its tourism industry and attract even more visitors."

Paul Davies, the Assembly Government's shadow heritage minister, added: "The current tough economic conditions present Wales with a great chance of improving its market share in tourism. But to achieve that, businesses need proper support from the Assembly Government."