WIREDGOV

The waters of Cardiff bay will be full of action this weekend as the last summer bank holiday gets underway with the P1 Welsh Grand Prix of the Sea.

P1 powerboats and jet skis will be racing in Cardiff Bay on 30 & 31 August in the fourth round of the SuperStock and AquaX UK Championships.

The event is supported by the Welsh Government, and Minister for Economy, Science and Transport, Edwina Hart will attend on Sunday.

The Minister, said:

“This weekend is an excellent opportunity to promote Cardiff Bay and Wales as a world class sailing and water sports venue and as an attractive and diverse visitor destination. We are fortunate to have some of the highest quality venues, facilities and hotels in the UK here in Wales. I hope the travelling fans have the chance to see and experience what we have to offer while enjoying our famous Welsh hospitality.”

The event brings to a close a summer of high profile events in Wales, with the autumn brining further opportunities to raise Wales’ profile internationally.

Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Ken Skates, said:

“There is now a recognition and excitement that Wales can host the biggest international sporting events. The summer has seen a mix of international iconic events mixed with smaller local events adding to the buzz of activity in Wales.

“Events supported by the Welsh Government provide a boost to local economies and last year our programme of supporting major events in Wales delivered more than £54 million of additional expenditure. We have made big strides in building Wales’s position in the global events industry and look forward to successfully hosting the first Grand Depart of the Tour of Britain next month, as well as  World Mountain Running Championships and of course the eight Rugby World Cup matches at the Millennium Stadium.

“The tourism industry in Wales is in a strong position and we will conduct a survey following the bank holiday to gauge the industry’s performance over the peak summer months. Early indications for 2015 are positive with accommodation occupancy showing increases in the first six months and latest figures also show Wales has managed to increase its share of domestic tourism spending during the first quarter of this year, with expenditure on visits to Wales rising by 28 per cent, compared to 21 per cent in the UK as a whole.  Following a record breaking year in 2014 we are continuing to work closely with the industry to sustain these excellent figures.“