The Wales Tourism Alliance have appointed a new Consultant Advocate from 1st April 2024. Lisa Francis served a term as an elected member of the then National Assembly for Wales and was her party’s spokesperson for tourism, transport, culture and Welsh language, with further responsibility for developing the Assembly’s own procedural rules.
A Welsh-speaker and former proprietor of the Queensbridge Hotel in Aberystwyth, she was also a Director of Mid Wales Tourism and Tourism Advisor to Nominet UK. She has worked with an AM and MP, supporting them with research, media and constituents’ casework and, as a freelancer, offered bespoke advice to small tourism businesses caught up in the complicated interest rate swap scandal. Lisa Francis replaces long standing Policy Advocate, Adrian Greason-Walker, as of the 1st April 2024. Please also note also Wales Tourism Week this year, with a Senedd reception, will be week commencing 15th July, not May as has been the case in previous year.
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Wales Tourism Week is a industry led opportunity to raise awareness of the issues impacting our industry, but it is also a time to showcase the quality of our offer. 2023 saw a wide range of support from over 10 events hosted across the industry which then culminated in a well-attended annual reception at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay.
This year's 2024 Wales Tourism Week Senedd Reception will be held on Tuesday 16th July - So please save the date. The Tourism Barometer assesses business confidence in the Welsh tourism industry and provides indicative results at national, regional and sectoral level. The latest survey, undertaken February 2024, took a look back at 2023, assessed of business confidence, occupancy statistics and a look at use of Welsh in the workplace. Of no surprise to WTA members will be the key takeaway quote...‘High costs and Welsh Government policies dominate concerns’.
Item 1.8 of the report directly states ‘Respondents citing more than one concern have been asked which one will impact on their business the most. When narrowed down to one, ‘Welsh Government policies’ are the single biggest concern among self-catering operators, and high operating costs are the biggest concern in all other sectors’. In percentage terms: ‘High operating costs’ were 32% unprompted and the related macro-economic issue ‘people lacking in disposable income’ at 22% with ‘Welsh Government policies’ at 30%. The WTA and its members have written to our new First Minister asking for an urgent review of 182 Day and the cumulative impact of other Welsh Government Policies remains at the top of our list. (See item below) The full report can be found here: Tourism Barometer: February Wave, 2024 | GOV.WALES Local Government and Housing Committee’s Stage 1 report on the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill19/3/2024 Following on from the evidence given by Suzy Davies, Chair of the WTA and other witnesses the Local Government and Housing Committee’s Stage 1 report on the Local Government Finance (Wales) Bill has been released. The Bill is currently at Stage 1, (an explanation of the various stages of Senedd Bills is available in the Guide to the Stages of Public Bills and Acts). On 20 February 2024, the Business Committee agreed to (PDF 47KB) extend the deadline for Stage 2 proceedings to 14 June 2024.
In brief the Bill proposes in respect of the non-domestic rates system:
Full details as to the passage of the Bill and the report can be found on the pages here: https://business.senedd.wales/mgIssueHistoryHome.aspx?IId=42241&optionId=0 Hundreds of micro, small and medium-sized businesses in Wales will soon be able to apply for Welsh Government funding designed to help them to reduce their running costs. Grants of between £5,000 and £10,000 will be available to eligible businesses in the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors.
The £20m Future Proofing Fund will help businesses strengthen their future trading position by increasing profitability through investment in renewable energy technology, improvements to the fabric of their premises, and upgrades to systems or machinery to reduce energy use. Economy Minister Vaughan Gething said: “The ongoing cost-of-living and cost-of-doing-business crises continues to present difficulties to businesses across Wales. These grants will help micro, small and medium sized businesses from the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors to make some significant changes in the way they run their operations so they can adapt for the future.” Finance Minister Rebecca Evans said: “In tough times, we want to help businesses get their bills down for good. This new fund will help reduce running costs with practical support that aids long term business planning. We are also providing a fifth successive year of support for retail, leisure and hospitality businesses with their rates bills, at a cost of £78m. This builds on the almost £1bn of support provided in rates relief schemes to these sectors since 2020-21.” The grants will be paid up to 75 per cent of project costs or £10,000, whichever is the lesser amount. It is expected that the business will contribute the remaining 25 per cent from other sources. The fund is open to businesses located in Wales (either headquartered or have an operating address in Wales) and which employ people in Wales. An eligibility checker will open in mid-April 2024 and applications will open in May 2024. Following Wales Tourism Alliance attendance at the first visitor levy working group, the Welsh Revenue Authority has developed a survey to estimate the costs to your businesses of administration tasks associated with a visitor levy. This is an opportunity for you to provide your knowledge of the impact to your businesses and the sector.
The Welsh Revenue Authority would appreciate if you could complete the following survey by the 29th March: English - https://surveys.wra.gov.wales/s/visitorlevyadmincostssurvey/ Cymraeg - https://surveys.wra.gov.wales/s/Ardollymwelwyrarolwgcostaugweinyddol/ Please could you click on the link below and send a letter to your MP asking to stop the Abolition of the FHL Allowances?
It takes a couple of minutes at most, and it will be voted on (12/03/24) in the House of Commons. That will not be the end of it, but it is really important that we send in as many of these letters as possible. If there are more than one voters in your house, then they can vote too, please share the petition link to all that you think may be affected. Link here: https://pascuk.eaction.online/FHL North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has spoken of the cumulative effect of Welsh Government policies affecting tourism and called on Ministers to respond to the call by Tourism industry representatives for a review of this.
Calling for a Welsh Government Statement on its Tourism policies in yesterday afternoon’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament, Mr Isherwood said the “flood of Welsh Government policy changes” affecting the Tourism industry in the last two years is also impacting other businesses and urged Ministers to look into this. Speaking in the Business Statement he said: “Tourism brings the equivalent of one seventh of the Welsh Government's annual budget, down from one sixth pre-pandemic, and is responsible for 5 per cent of our Gross Value Added (the value of goods and services produced in an economy). It supports between 180,000 and 206,000 jobs throughout Wales, notably in areas where alternative jobs are not easily come by. The industry has been dealing with a flood of Welsh Government policy changes in the last two years. “Thousands of small businesses, key to their local economies, are being overwhelmed by the number of new regulations and costs, and Tourism industry representatives have emphasised the importance of understanding that tourism is an eco-system as well as an industry, and that if you target one sector, the effects ripple out beyond the immediate focus and affect other businesses. “They're therefore calling on the Welsh Government for a review of the cumulative effect of policies currently affecting tourism, including business rate relief, the 182-day rule, council tax premiums, and of proposed policies such as statutory licensing, tourism tax, and changes to the school year.” In her response, the Minister for Social Justice said: “I think we can be proud of the Deputy Minister, certainly, in terms of taking this forward with our great vision for tourism, and delivery of tourism in Wales, which is clear about the opportunities and the prospects, but also the figures speak for themselves in terms of the attraction of Wales. I think it is important, as the First Minister has just mentioned, the importance of the visitor levy, which we believe will make a beneficial difference in terms of tourism in Wales.” Speaking after the meeting, Mr Isherwood added: “The impact that these policies are having, not just on the tourism sector but also on a range of other businesses, is deeply concerning, but what is more concerning is that the Welsh Government appear oblivious to this.” MWT Cymru, an advocate for tourism businesses across Powys, Ceredigion and Meirionnydd, has announced a leadership change with the appointment of Zoe Hawkins as new chief executive. With 14 years of dedicated service within the organisation, coupled with her first-hand experience as a business owner, Zoe has a wealth of experience and a keen understanding of the complexities faced by tourism businesses.
Zoe, who lives in Newtown, is looking forward to leading MWT Cymru, also known as Mid Wales Tourism, into a new era of growth and collaboration. She takes up her new post next month. "I am immensely proud to take on the role of chief executive at MWT Cymru, an organisation dedicated to the prosperity of the tourism sector in Mid Wales," said Zoe. "Having been a part of this community for more than a decade, I've seen the resilience and creativity of our members. My commitment is to continue fostering a supportive environment where our tourism businesses can flourish." Zoe succeeds Val Hawkins, MBE, who retires after 25 years of leadership and more than 40 years working in the tourism sector. Val’s contributions to the organisation and the wider industry were recognised last year when she was awarded an MBE for her services to tourism and the Welsh economy. “I am deeply honoured to carry on the legacy of Val's exceptional leadership and am dedicated to further building upon the strong foundation she has established,” added Zoe. As an independent, not-for-profit organisation, Machynlleth-based MWT Cymru stands as a vital support system for more than 600 independent tourism-related businesses in the Mid Wales region. The organisation aims to serve these businesses by advocating on their behalf at both regional and national levels, ensuring their voices are heard in pivotal discussions affecting the future of tourism and our rural economy. Val expressed confidence in Zoe's leadership. "After 25 years of service to MWT Cymru, I am immensely proud of all that we have accomplished together," she said. "I have full faith in Zoe's abilities to lead MWT Cymru into its next chapter, and I extend my heartfelt thanks to our members for their unwavering support throughout my tenure." Rowland Rees-Evans, MWT Cymru Chairman and director of Penrhos Park, Llanrhystud, added: “With her valuable knowledge and experience, Zoe is well placed to continue to support MWT Cymru member in the months and years ahead,” he said. Since joining MWT Cymru in 2010, Zoe has played a pivotal role in various initiatives, joining as a business development officer, digital projects manager and then operations manager in 2019. "Mid Wales is blessed with a vibrant community of independent businesses that not only contribute to our local economy but also serve as a unique draw for our tourism market," added Zoe. "Our region's identity is intricately intertwined with its farming heritage, close-knit communities and family-owned businesses. It's imperative that we collaborate to safeguard and promote these assets." Zoe says MWT Cymru will continue to prioritise collaboration and support among its members, emphasising the importance of working together to bolster the tourism sector and support rural businesses. She also emphasised the organisation's steadfast commitment to representing it member businesses at a regional and national level, as well as serving as a comprehensive resource for them, facilitating growth and promoting Mid Wales as a premier tourism destination. The UK budget announcement yesterday (6th March 2024) featured another hit against the self-catering sector, this time from Westminster Conservative Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt MP. The news had already been extensively leaked that he planned to do away with FHL Allowances.
So, what was announced?
There was no news on reducing VAT and more broadly nothing to address the UK's position at the bottom of the international league table for price competitiveness as a destination. |