Brecon Jazz tourism award

The HSBC Brecon Jazz Festival has landed the Best Major Event in Wales award in this year’s National Tourism Awards ceremony held at Bodelwyddan Castle, Denbighshire, at the weekend.

Festival Director Jim Smith said: "For Wales to have one of the best jazz festivals in the UK, and one of the best three in Europe is unique. It provides a world wide branding opportunity for Brecon and Wales. Quite simply, people now know Brecon for the Jazz.

"Obviously we are delighted that the importance of the festival as been recognised by Visit Wales and the award will serve us in good stead as we enter into negotiations with the Welsh Assembly Government and Arts Council of Wales over the next few weeks."

Tourism Minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas said: "The winners richly deserve the applause. They are all committed to quality and to continuous improvement."

Independent research conducted after last year's festival showed that Brecon Jazz brought an estimated £2m spending into the town, and created over £3m for the Welsh economy.

Plans are now being made for the event's Silver Jubilee in 2008, with some exciting announcements promised in the near future.

Keep an eye on www.breconjazz.co.uk