More than 80 tourism businesses and industry partners came together in Abergavenny for the 2026 Brecon Beacons Tourism Summit, a milestone event delivered in partnership with the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority as part of Brecon Beacons Tourism’s 20th anniversary year.
Held at the The Angel Hotel, the Summit focused on collaboration, responsible tourism and the opportunities ahead for the visitor economy across Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park and surrounding areas.
The event brought together accommodation providers, attractions, activity businesses, retailers, food and drink producers and destination partners for a day of discussion, learning and connection — demonstrating the strength of partnership working across the destination.
A shared future for tourism in Bannau Brycheiniog
Opening the Summit, Brecon Beacons Tourism Director Julie Bell welcomed businesses and partners, highlighting the importance of working together to strengthen the visitor economy while supporting local communities and protecting the special qualities of the National Park.
The programme included contributions from representatives of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority, Visit Wales, Beicio Cymru and sector specialists, covering topics including destination management, cycling tourism opportunities, digital booking trends, dark skies tourism and the cultural importance of the Fforest Fawr Geopark.
Throughout the day, businesses were encouraged to think not only about their own operations but about how collaboration across the destination helps create a stronger and more resilient tourism sector.
Alongside the speaker programme, the Summit created space for businesses to network, share ideas and explore practical opportunities, including improving digital visibility, strengthening direct bookings and making the most of available business support.
Local producers and partners also helped showcase the breadth of the visitor economy, reinforcing the message that tourism in Bannau Brycheiniog succeeds through relationships as much as individual businesses.
The Summit formed part of Brecon Beacons Tourism’s 20th anniversary programme, recognising two decades of supporting local tourism businesses through representation, marketing opportunities, business support and partnership working.
The event demonstrated the continued importance of an independent, business-led organisation that can bring the sector together and ensure the voice of tourism businesses is heard within regional and national conversations.
Brecon Beacons Tourism will continue to build on the conversations started at the Summit through its programme of networking meetings, workshops and member support initiatives throughout 2026.
Businesses who attended will receive follow-up resources and opportunities to continue discussions, while those unable to attend are encouraged to connect with Brecon Beacons Tourism to learn more about future events and membership opportunities.
Julie Bell, Director of Brecon Beacons Tourism, said:
“Seeing so many businesses in one room, sharing ideas and supporting each other, was genuinely powerful. Tourism here has always been built on partnership and community, and the Summit showed just how strong that spirit still is.
As we celebrate 20 years of Brecon Beacons Tourism, our focus remains the same — helping businesses grow, improving visibility for the destination and making sure we continue working actively together towards a strong future for tourism in Bannau Brycheiniog.”
Businesses interested in becoming part of the Brecon Beacons Tourism network can find out more about membership, support and opportunities to get involved through Brecon Beacons Tourism
