The Welsh Language Board says it will continue using 'persuasion' rather than pushing for legislation to force firms to adopt the Welsh language alongside English.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) says there has to be a commercial incentive for firms to start using Welsh as well as English - and there should be more research to show how using two languages makes business sense.

FSB spokesman Russell Lawson told icWales:

"Tourists do like the idea that Welsh is a separate language. They think it's nice and quaint we have our language and culture."

He said that the potential benefits for businesses included printing their letterhead in both languages as a low-cost way of differentiating themselves from their competitors, and said that more research needs to be done into quantifying these benefits.