TENBY, Marloes and Broad Haven will be among the county's tourist hot spots to receive part of a £323,000 funding boost.

Deputy minister for culture, sport and tourism, Lord Elis-Thomas, today (January 25) announced £2.2 million for 23 projects across Wales, to improve the visitor experience and develop "high quality destinations".

The projects include improvements to cycle paths; upgrades to access and facilities at blue flag beaches; visitor parking; signage and public conveniences, and reflect local as well as national priorities.

The Marloes Peninsular Visitor Experience project will receive £119,953.68 for car parking improvements, replacement visitor welcome building, and improved access to Runwayskiln café and hostel, including improved disabled access, better facilities for cyclists, and new signage and interpretation.

Broad Haven will benefit from £53,200, which will be used to transform a car park into a 'visitor hub' highlighting the village's status as a 'gateway' to the national park.

It will also pay for children's adventure play space, picnic shelter, outdoors showers, water fountain, phone charging unit, and improvements to signage.

Pembrokeshire County Council will receive £128,000 to replace Tenby Harbour sluice entrance stop logs with a gate that can be easily opened on demand, which will extend the operating season and create a year-round harbour excursion offer.

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority (PCNPA) will receive £22,400 for a pilot drinking water fountain scheme across seven local sites.

Bus stops between Fishguard and Porthmadog which are served by the Traws Cymru T2 and T5 routes, will also enjoy improvements thanks to funding of £128,000/

A joint project with Ceredigion County Council will 'smart' graphic display screens installed on buses on this route, as well as public information screens at bus stops along the route.

Carmarthenshire County Council will get £127,818 to create a sunken sand area for volleyball, beach rugby, football and handball, to compliment the Pendine Tourism Attractor Project.

Lord Elis-Thomas, said: “This scheme is an excellent way for us to assist the tourism sector to make improvements to local facilities and amenities.

"Facilities such as footpaths, toilets, signage, car parking are often only noticed when the provision is lacking or not up to scratch – which shows that they are an important part of the experience that people have of Wales."

He said the investment would benefit locals and visitors alike, and would help people become more active while enjoying the Welsh countryside.

The funding has been made available through the Tourism Amenity Investment Support scheme (TAIS), thanks to the Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.