Tourism Minister Edwina Hart has praised the ongoing investment programme at Oakwood Theme Park during a visit to this week.

The Minister for Economy, Science and Transport also praised Pembrokeshire’s ‘forward looking’ tourism businesses and said the Welsh government was committed to working in partnership with the tourism industry.

During her visit she met Aspro UK Director Sue Elaiho and Chief Operating Officer David Soriano who gave her a guided tour of the park’s Neverland family-themed attraction before she officially opened the newly-refurbished Oak Tree Restaurant Bar & Grill.

The park’s bosses also used the visit to announce plans for a spooky new £2m multi-attraction called ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ which is due to open next year.

Sleepy Hollow is a secluded glen with a haunting atmosphere – it’s home to a ghoulish phantom called the Headless Horseman and the terrifying ‘Tree of the Dead’. The whole area abounds with local tales of haunted spots and twilight superstitions.

Oakwood Theme Park’s Clare Stansfield said: “It was a real pleasure to have the chance to show the Minister around the park and to let her see the results of our ongoing investment programme.

“Over the past two years we have invested well in excess of £5m in developing new areas of the park and providing visitors with a series of quality new attractions.

“This will continue next year with our exciting new ‘Legend of Sleepy Hollow’ which will feature a series of spooky new attractions and a major new ride experience,” she added.

As well as Oakwood, the Minister also visited the award-winning Giltar Hotel in Tenby.

“It’s been a pleasure to visit these two forward looking Pembrokeshire tourism businesses,” she said.

“I’d like to congratulate them on their commitment to invest in the business to ensure that their customers’ demands are met. There is clear evidence that investment in quality facilities supports higher performance and drives profitability and visitors will return time again for a quality experience.

“The Welsh Government is committed to working in partnership with the tourism industry in Wales to grow tourism by 10% by 2020.

“We place great importance on tourism as it’s one of our nine priority sectors which are key to the economy of Wales.

“With reports that 2014 got off to a positive start, Wales’ tourism industry is in a strong position and this is an exciting time to be involved in the sector,” she added.