THE retiring chairman of an independent organisation that represents 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across mid Wales has called for better partnership between the private and public sectors to promote the nation’s “most important industry”.

“Economies thrive when there is a clear understanding between the private and public sectors,” Anne Lloyd-Jones, from Tywyn, told the annual meeting of MWT Cymru at Plas Talgarth Resort, Pennal, near Machynlleth. “This should be a symbiotic partnership.”

She said the partnership needed to be funded properly and complementary and she argued that MWT Cymru’s successful promotion of the industry in the region had benefited tourism businesses in general irrespective of whether they were members or not.

One of the biggest future challenges facing the company was keeping pace with “resource hungry” digital technology, but she was confident that MWT Cymru would rise to the occasion.

Reflecting on her 15 years as chairman, Mrs Lloyd-Jones said there had been many challenges since she took over the reins following the death of Tom Raw-Rees in 2001, including the foot and mouth crisis, the replacement of the Wales Tourist Board with Visit Wales and the advent and demise of regional tourism partnerships.

“Even though over the 15 years we have seen many challenges, MWT Cymru has survived and I am pleased to be able to hand over a financially viable company into the safe hands of the incoming chairman, Rowland Rees-Evans,” she added.

Read the full story in this Thursday’s Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News