Tourism Summit 2026

Secure your space at Pembrokeshire’s not to be missed thought-leadership event for tourism.

On Thursday 26th March, the Visit Pembrokeshire Tourism Summit sponsored by Barclays Bank returns to the award-winning Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo. This not-to-be-missed industry event is open to anyone who is involved in or has an interest in tourism in Pembrokeshire.

This is our biggest event of the year, bringing together tourism professionals from across the industry, including our valued members, Ambassadors and Strategic partners, and partners from across the public and third sectors; all ready to shape the future of regenerative tourism in our county.

We are thrilled to announce, as part of the Tourism Summit 2026, we will be hosting a Q & A panel with local candidates in the upcoming Welsh elections at the Senedd.

Focused around the future of one of Pembrokeshire's biggest economic drivers - tourism, the political candidates from all the main parties will form a chaired panel and will be given the opportunity to share their vision for sustainable tourism growth in Pembrokeshire and to respond to questions around this.

Visit Pembrokeshire Board Member Adrian Lort-Phillips will host and facilitate this session.

We encourage our attendees to prepare and submit their questions in advance via the link below, keeping them focussed on the theme of the Summit

Kate Nicholls OBE
Chair of UKHospitality

Kate Nicholls OBE is the full-time Chair of UKHospitality, the powerful voice representing the broad hospitality sector, and leads its lobbying, campaigning and media work. Kate was previously its CEO for seven years, since its inception in 2018. Kate previously worked as CEO and Strategic Affairs Director of the Association of Licenced Multiple Retailers (ALMR).

Kate sits on the Government’s Tourism, Hospitality, and Food & Drink Sector Councils, where she represents the wider hospitality and tourism sector. As a passionate advocate for inclusivity in hospitality, Kate is also the Government’s first Disability Ambassador for hospitality.

Kate is the Chair of the Institute of Licensing, a board member of Best Bar None, and a trustee of Hospitality Action and Springboard. She has previously chaired the Tourism Alliance, London Night-time Commission, and London Tourism Recovery Board.

Kate initially worked as a researcher in the House of Commons and European Parliament on food, employment and environmental policy before joining Whitbread to work in Strategic Affairs. She has extensive experience as a political and strategic communications consultant and is a graduate of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge and Kings College London.

John T Davies FRAgS, MRAC, NDA
Chair of the Eisteddfod Executive Committee

John Davies is a fifth-generation farmer at Cwmbetws Eglwyswrw in North Pembrokeshire. He farms in partnership with his wife Bethan and son Harri. 

From 2012 for a decade John was the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society. He is also an honorary Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies of the UK. For nine years he was appointed by the Director General of Electricity Supply as the rural voice on the Electricity Consumer Council. For over a decade John was a member and former Chairman of Dyfed Powys Police Authority. 

He was appointed in 2010 by the Culture Secretary as a member of S4C Authority until completing his second term in 2018. He is currently a Non-Executive director of Meat Promotion Wales appointed by Welsh Government to represent the interest of the farming community. 

From 2008 till May 2012 he was the Leader of the Welsh Local Government Association and was leader of Pembrokeshire County Council from 2004 till 2012. John remains one of the longest serving members of the County Council, having been elected in 1999. 

In 2018 John was made an honorary member of the Gorsedd of Welsh Bards. He was elected Chairman of the Executive Committee of the National Eisteddfod of Wales Eisteddfod Y Garreg Las which will be visiting Pembrokeshire in 2026, which will attract circa 180,000 to the area over eight days.

Currently John also the Chairman of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service. He spends much of his spare time as Chairman of the High Sheriff of Dyfed Trust. 

ABOUT OUR SPONSOR

We are thrilled to announce that the 2026 Tourism Summit has been sponsored by Barclays Bank.