A Monmouthshire business director committed to the future of the area's tourism is to chair the adventa local action group.
Antony Smith heads a group drawn from the public, private and voluntary sectors. It has been set up to oversee the strategic direction of both adventa, which works with businesses in the food, tourism and timber sectors in Monmouthshire to add value to local products, and Rural Community Action, which, through its team of rural development workers, is working with local communities to develop their ideas and projects.
The action group takes the lead in identifying local needs, and in developing a strategy which guides Monmouthshire's rural development programme and strengthens local partnerships.
Antony is a director of Wyastone Estate, which not only operates the newly-opened Wyastone Business Park and the long-established Nimbus Records but also manages the Wyastone summer series of classical music concerts, held in a purpose-built concert hall beside the River Wye.
The summer series, one of the premier classical music festivals in the UK, attracts a wide regional and national audience and Mr Smith is keen to develop the series as a major tourism attraction for the area.
He said: "adventa has been very supportive of our summer series and we have worked together to promote the Wye Valley to visitors, so I am delighted to be able to co-operate even more with them to further the interests of sustainable tourism in the area."
He is well-placed to do so as chairman of Wye Valley Tourism Association and a member of Monmouthshire Tourism Alliance, which seeks to provide one voice for the local tourism industry.
He also represents tourism interests on the joint advisory committee of the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Cath Lawrence, adventa programme manager, said: "We are delighted to have someone with Antony's experience, energy and enthusiasm to provide strategic guidance and direction to our work." Mr Smith also recognises the importance of stimulating the rural economy, by supporting local food businesses, artists, craftspeople and the timber sector.
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