AN MS has celebrated the opening of a Conwy Valley hotel as "doubling down" on efforts to put the region at the centre of Welsh tourism.

Hilton Garden Inn, the four-storey, 106-bedroom property, is the company's first hotel in North Wales and one of the largest in the region, situated beside the inland surf lagoon at Adventure Parc Snowdonia in Deganwy.

Janet Finch-Saunders, MS for Aberconwy, who is campaigning for a direct railway line from Manchester Airport to the Conwy Valley, said she hopes the development is a sign of more investment in the tourism industry in the area.

“We know that North Wales, and the wonderful Conwy Valley in particular, is consistently viewed as a destination of choice for visitors who are seeking adventure and unique experiences," said Mrs Finch-Saunders.

“After what has been an incredibly difficult year for the sector, it was an honour to have been invited to the launch of this new, major hotel and well-being complex. Surrounded by one of Europe’s most unspoiled landscapes, it is not hard to see the draw for visitors.

“This investment in Adventure Parc Snowdonia will now allow us to double down on our region’s reputation as the beating heart of the Welsh tourism offer. I trust that this will be a bold signal of further investment to come, which can only benefit local communities.

“I will continue to push the Welsh Government to be bold in its support of our local tourism sector too, by steaming ahead with my campaign for a direct rail service from Manchester Airport to the Conwy Valley, fair financial support, and major reform to Visit Wales."