Key figures from hospitality, tourism and culture to headline major county event

THE VISIT Pembrokeshire Tourism Summit will return on Wednesday, Marcn 26, bringing together leading voices from across the visitor economy for the county’s flagship industry event.

Hosted once again at Folly Farm, the annual summit is open to anyone involved in — or with an interest in — tourism in Pembrokeshire. This year’s theme, Shaping the Future Together: Sustainable Growth for Pembrokeshire, will focus on collaboration, innovation and long-term development across the sector.

Organisers say the event is the largest in Visit Pembrokeshire’s calendar, attracting tourism professionals, business owners, strategic partners and representatives from the public and third sectors.

The keynote speaker will be Kate Nicholls OBE, Chair and former Chief Executive of UKHospitality, widely regarded as one of the UK’s most influential advocates for the hospitality and tourism industries. She has played a central role in shaping national policy and championing the sector’s contribution to local economies.

Jason Thomas, Director of Visit Wales, will provide an update on national tourism priorities, while John Davies, Chair of the Executive Committee for the 2026 National Eisteddfod, will also address delegates. A former leader of Pembrokeshire County Council, Mr Davies brings extensive experience of both local government and national organisations.

Emma Thornton, Chief Executive of Visit Pembrokeshire, will open the summit by outlining the organisation’s ten-year vision for the Pembrokeshire visitor economy.

She said: “The Visit Pembrokeshire 2026 Tourism Summit will be a day to unite our industry, strengthen our voice, and shape the future of tourism in our county. Attendees will have the opportunity to make new connections, share innovation and best practice, and above all champion our visitor economy.

“Be in the room. Be part of the conversation. Be part of the future.”

Tickets for the summit are available via Eventbrite.

Visit Pembrokeshire is the county’s official Destination Management Organisation (DMO), operating as a business-led public-private partnership. The organisation provides tourism leadership and advocacy, destination marketing, campaign delivery, business support, and research and intelligence.

It also coordinates delivery of Pembrokeshire’s 2024–2028 Destination Management Plan, a shared strategy aimed at growing tourism sustainably for the benefit of communities and businesses.

Welsh youth icon to be celebrated with music release, Aberystwyth artwork and St David’s Day events

ONE of Wales’ most recognisable youth icons is marking a major milestone this year as Urdd Gobaith Cymru launches celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of Mistar Urdd.

The red, white and green mascot — created in 1976 — has become synonymous with the Urdd and its mission to inspire children and young people through the medium of Welsh. To launch the anniversary year, the organisation has unveiled a series of projects including a newly recorded version of the anthem Hei Mistar Urdd!, a large public mural in Aberystwyth, and a community celebration linked to St David’s Day.

The new recording, released on Thursday (Feb 20), features singer-songwriter Aleighcia Scott alongside Dom James and Lloyd, with backing vocals by Mared Williams. The track has been newly arranged by Morgan Elwy and recorded at the iconic Sain studios in Llandwrog — the same studio where the original version was produced almost half a century ago.

Siân Lewis, Chief Executive of Urdd Gobaith Cymru, said the anniversary was a moment of pride for the organisation and for Wales.

“Mistar Urdd has remained close to the hearts of the people of Wales for 50 years, and that is something to be proud of,” she said. “The character has evolved into a symbol of hope and represents the friendship, fun and pride that we share with children and young people across the country.

“Over the decades, Mistar Urdd has travelled to space, helped the Urdd break a Guinness World Record, greeted presidents and prime ministers, and even lent his name to a brand-new train. He also plays a key role in opening doors to the Welsh language and showing that the Urdd belongs to everyone.”

Aleighcia Scott said she was honoured to be part of the new recording.

“It’s an absolute privilege to be part of the new version of Hei Mistar Urdd! — what an icon, what an anthem,” she said. “As a Welsh learner, I love the work the Urdd does to inspire children and young people across Wales, and it’s been a joy to celebrate that spirit through this song.”

Kev Tame, Chief Executive of Sain, said the collaboration continued a long-standing partnership between the label and the Urdd.

“The anthem was originally released on Sain in 1977, and we are very proud to release this new version almost 50 years later,” he said.

The anniversary programme also includes a major public mural in Aberystwyth, due to be unveiled on Wednesday (Feb 25). The artwork has been designed by internationally recognised Welsh artist Pete Fowler — known for his work with the Super Furry Animals — with support from Cardiff-based creative studio UNIFY.

Pete Fowler said: “Mistar Urdd brings a smile to everyone’s face, and it was a pleasure to reimagine him for this milestone. I wanted to create something colourful and joyful that feels contemporary while respecting the character’s history.”

The Aberystwyth celebrations will also include school visits by Aleighcia Scott and a live performance of the new anthem at the mural site, with Mistar Urdd making a special appearance. The event has received support from the Welsh Government’s St David’s Day Fund.

First Minister Eluned Morgan said: “Mistar Urdd has been a part of so many childhoods in Wales and it is heartwarming to see him inspiring the next generation. This project shows how creativity, education and community can come together to celebrate who we are as a nation.”

Mistar Urdd was originally created by Wynne Melville Jones shortly after he became the Urdd’s publicity officer. By adding arms, legs and a face to the organisation’s triangular logo, he brought to life a character that would grow into a national symbol of Welsh youth and inclusivity.

Reflecting on the anniversary, Wyn Mel said: “Fifty years later, Mistar Urdd is still a firm favourite among the country’s children and young people. I can say hand on heart that all the hard work has paid off.”

Further anniversary activities are expected to be announced throughout the year.

Politicians clash over NHS performance as latest figures show pressures remain

AMBULANCE response times for the most life-threatening emergencies in Wales have increased, according to the latest NHS performance statistics, prompting fresh political criticism and renewed concerns about pressure on frontline services.

Figures show that for “red” calls — incidents where patients are at high risk of cardiac or respiratory arrest — the median response time rose to nine minutes and 33 seconds. The 90th percentile response time also increased to 22 minutes and 48 seconds compared with the previous month.

Statisticians say these are the longest recorded times since the current ambulance performance system was introduced in July 2025 and remain above the Welsh Government target range of six to eight minutes.

The data comes alongside wider NHS performance figures which show continuing challenges across the health service, including long waiting lists and emergency department pressures.

Waiting list pressures

Across Wales, 5,252 patient pathways were still waiting two years or more for treatment in December. By comparison, England recorded 223 such waits, despite having a population around 18 times larger.

Overall, there were approximately 740,954 patient pathways waiting to start treatment in Wales in December — equivalent to nearly one in four of the population — with around 580,300 individual patients affected.

The median waiting time for treatment in Wales was 19 weeks, compared with 13.4 weeks in England.

Emergency departments also remained under strain. In January, only 63.4% of patients spent less than four hours in emergency departments, far below the 95% target, while 11,392 patients waited more than 12 hours — up 10% on the previous month.

Cancer performance below target

Cancer treatment performance also fell short of national targets, with 60.7% of patients starting treatment within 62 days of first suspicion of cancer, compared with the 75% target.

Political reaction

Reform UK Senedd Member for Brecon and Radnorshire, James Evans MS, criticised the Welsh Government’s handling of the NHS.

He said: “NHS mismanagement, by Labour Ministers and their supporters in Plaid, is posing a serious risk to life.

“Ambulance waiting times are getting worse as Plaid and Labour’s budget deal sees cash splashed on making ambulances greener.

“Reform UK would cut waste and bureaucracy to ensure that taxpayers’ money reaches the front line of our NHS.”

The Welsh Government has previously said NHS performance remains affected by high demand, workforce pressures, and the legacy of the pandemic, while pointing to gradual improvements in some waiting time measures over recent months.

Ongoing challenges

Health experts say ambulance response times are heavily influenced by pressures elsewhere in the system, particularly delays in hospital handovers and shortages in social care, which can prevent patients being discharged quickly.

For patients and families across Wales, the figures highlight continuing challenges despite efforts to improve performance.

The coming months are expected to remain difficult for NHS services as demand continues to rise, with health leaders warning that long-term solutions will require investment, workforce planning, and better integration between health and social care.