Key to city's prosperity

The council is hiring a tourism officer to use major events like the Ryder Cup in 2010 to unlock the city's tourism potential.

Yesterday the Argus revealed how the 2010 event will bring an estimated £70 million to the Gwent economy as pubs, hotels and restaurants get set for a boom in trade.

It's anticipated that the major golf tournament at the Celtic Manor resort will bring thousands of visitors and millions of pounds to Gwent.

Brian Dunford, economic development manager at the council, said: "As we get closer to the Ryder Cup there's an increasing amount of work. "It's a three-day event, so a lot of the benefit will come before or after the event. We need to get the infrastructure in place now to make sure we capitalise on its impact on Newport."

He said a key role of the new post of assistant tourism officer, which will be advertised in the coming weeks, will involve the Ryder Cup.

The new officer will liaise with the hotel industry, guest houses, golf courses and local attractions to help develop a co-ordinated approach. Mr Dunford added: "In the run-up to the Ryder Cup there're many opportunities for golf and business tourism.

"We're also trying to attract funding to grow tourism. There's a lot of money available and the new tourism assistant will be applying for it, in addition to helping our existing tourism officer."

The council estimates tourism brought 420 full-time jobs to the city in the last six years. Newport's tourism sector - which includes the Transporter Bridge, the stunnign Tredegar House and historic Caerleon - is now worth £152m and employs over 3,400.

Mr Dunford said: "It's an area that we have to target. Tourism is one of the key drivers of the economy and Newport has a great deal to offer. The city is changing."

The council also hopes to encourage more hotels into the city centre, to upgrade the railway station as a 'gateway' to Newport and to raise the profile of St Woolos Cathedral.