The UK Government has launched it’s Net Zero Strategy.
​Two funding announcements that are of particular relevance to the UK domestic and international tourism sectors are:

• Another £620 million for targeted electric vehicle grants and infrastructure, particularly local on-street residential charge points
• £180 million to support the development of Sustainable Aviation Fuel plants

 
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/net-zero-strategy
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DCMS released statistic on businesses in the sectors under its responsibility. The data is from 2019, historical, but they do provide a base level by which to measure the impact of Covid.

​Some of the main findings are:

• Of the 645,000 businesses in sectors under DCMS’s responsibility, 47% (303,000) of them were in the tourism industry
• 12% of all businesses in the UK are tourism businesses
• 82% of all tourism businesses are micro businesses employing 0-9 people
• Tourism has the most even spread of businesses of all sectors with all regions of England bar the NE having at least 20,000 tourism businesses
• 97% of tourism businesses are British owned

 
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/dcms-sectors-economic-estimates-2019-business-demographics/dcms-sectors-economic-estimates-2019-business-demographics-headline-release
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The WTA made contribution to the recent BEIS Binding Arbitration and Code of Practice for Commercial Rents Roundtable discussion. The resolution of rent arrears and the need to reach fair negotiated agreements remains a critical issue for both tourism businesses and landlords. With many businesses still requiring protection from the threat of eviction due to uncertain trading conditions, it is important that an ability to pay is based upon viability, which at the current time must embrace uncertainty in supply chains, staff shortages and Brexit impacts. Clarity within the proposed arbitration over the term “those that can pay rent should do so” was sought together with detail relating to process and cost of entering into the process.
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The Commercial Rents Bill is due to receive Royal Assent in March 2022.

The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) has launched a consultation on whether councils should have a statutory obligation to plan for and provide charging infrastructure. The government has committed to phasing out the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2030. All new cars and vans will be fully zero emissions at the tailpipe from 2035. OZEV is asking for views on whether to introduce:
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• a statutory obligation to plan for and provide charging infrastructure
• requirements to install charge points in non-residential car parks
• new powers to support the delivery of the Rapid Charging Fund
• requirements to improve the experience for electric vehicle consumers

 
The consultation closes at 11:45pm on 22 November.
 
                https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/future-of-transport-regulatory-review-zero-emission-vehicles/future-of-transport-regulatory-review-zero-emission-vehicles
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From today, you must show a COVID Pass or demonstrate their COVID-19 status to enter nightclubs and attend large events.
All adults over-18 will need to show an NHS COVID Pass or a negative COVID-19 test to enter:
•             nightclubs and similar venues
•             indoor, non-seated events for more than 500 people
•             outdoor non-seated events for more than 4,000 people
•             any setting or event with more than 10,000 people in attendance
 
https://gov.wales/wales-introduces-covid-pass-events-and-nightclubs
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After a suspension in grading visits due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Quality Assurance team will be resuming their duties over the coming weeks.
The Quality Advisors will have a considerable backlog of telephone calls to make, and because of this, it is felt that the best way to move forward and re start the grading process is, on an initial ‘trial basis’, to contact those businesses who have applied for quality grading for the very first time. However, please be reassured, that we will be coming out to visit all properties in due course.

In order to support businesses there will be no charge for participation in our quality schemes for the foreseeable future (apart from where the costs for overnight grading visits and entry fees, use of food and drink outlets, etc. for tourist attraction assessments will need to be covered by the business). If you are a new business or if you were previously graded and would like to participate in quality grading once more, please email quality.tourism@gov.wales.

The Wales Tourism Business Barometer provides a ‘snapshot’ of industry performance after important points in the tourism calendar.
Findings for the summer period 2021 are now available which show:
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• About half (48%) of operators have had more customers compared to a normal (pre-COVID) summer, about a third (31%) have had the same, and 21% have had fewer. 
• All four regions of Wales have been busier than normal (pre-COVID) this summer, but South West Wales particularly so. 56% of businesses in this region have had more customers this summer compared to normal. 
• Nearly all (97%) businesses are choosing to maintain some safety measures voluntarily that they are no longer required to maintain by law. There are many types of measure being maintained – most commonly hand sanitisers (87% of those maintaining measures), extra cleaning (65%) and social distancing (54%) There is a general sense of operators still wanting to do what they can to keep COVID at bay, even if it impacts on profit. 
• Three in five (60%) say that COVID has prompted them to make permanent changes in how they run their business, with a further 22% not yet knowing. The most common changes are continued deep cleaning (29%) and continued acceptance of pre-bookings (15%). 
• About half (48%) of businesses have more advance bookings for the remainder of 2021 than they would normally have at this time of year, and 35% have the same level. 

Trade bodies call on Chancellor to keep VAT at 12.5% to help businesses rebuild post-pandemic

Leading trade associations representing the UK’s hospitality and tourism sectors have joined forces to call on the Chancellor Rishi Sunak to introduce a permanent lower rate of VAT for these fragile sectors, helping to safeguard their future, protect jobs and to accelerate the UK’s economic recovery.

Under Treasury plans, hospitality and tourism VAT rises to 12.5% from today (1st October) and will return to its pre-pandemic level of 20% come April 2022, just as next year’s peak season begins for much of the sector. Now the trade bodies - UKHospitality, the British Beer and Pub Association, the British Institute of Innkeeping, Tourism Alliance and the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions - are warning that unless VAT remains permanently low at 12.5%, the Government risks derailing the recovery at a time when businesses are still in survival mode.

Across the course of the pandemic, hospitality and tourism were the hardest hit sectors, with spend down £100bn, 12,000 businesses permanently closed and 660,000 jobs lost. However, the reduction in VAT helped protect hundreds of thousands of jobs and allowed many businesses to stay open and serving customers when permitted to trade. A survey of the trade associations’ members covering 815 businesses operating tens of thousands of venues found that:

• The reduced rate of VAT has been vital to businesses, with over three-quarters (77%) stating it is important or crucial to viability
• Businesses will use the current reduced VAT rate for an array of productive purposes, including 6 in 10 who will invest in their businesses; half who will use it to meet costs of complying with Covid-secure guidance; along with paying suppliers and creditors and keep prices more affordable
• Similarly, if the reduced rate were to continue to apply beyond April 2022, 70% would use the saved costs to maintain business investment
• Returning VAT back to 20% in April 2022 would have serious consequences; 6 in 10 businesses said it would likely lead to cutbacks and job losses; with one in ten saying it could cause their business to close
• If VAT on tourism and hospitality were to remain at 12.5%, analysis suggests it would increase business turnover by an average of 8.8% and boost business investment by an average of 12%.

In a joint statement, the trade bodies said: “Businesses are at a perilous stage of their recovery after what’s been a devastating 18 months. Costs are increasing and there are numerous operational challenges for them to deal with, specifically around labour and product supply. A reduction in VAT has helped many of our businesses survive to this point and was most welcome. However, the return of VAT to its pre-pandemic level next year would curtail investment, restrict growth, set back our tourism recovery and risk yet more painful job losses.

“We’re now calling on the Chancellor to commit to introducing a permanent 12.5% rate of VAT in his upcoming Budget, later this month. This will help protect jobs and continue the support for our hospitality and tourism businesses which contribute hugely to the nation’s economic and social wellbeing.”

​ENDS
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With the end of furlough and the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme, all the guidance on the CJRS and SEISS has been updated here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wages-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
 
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-what-to-do-if-youre-self-employed-and-getting-less-work-or-no-work
 
There is also updated guidance for employees whose employer now has less or no work for them because of coronavirus. This signposts to:
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• New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) if they are under State Pension age, unemployed or are working less than 16 hours a week on average, and have made enough National Insurance contributions, usually over the last 2 to 3 years
• Universal Credit if they or their partner are under State Pension age and you have £16,000 or less in savings – they might be able to get it at the same time as New Style JSA
• Pension Credit if both they and their partner have reached State Pension age

 
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-what-to-do-if-youre-employed-and-cannot-work

The first major tourism and hospitality conference held in Wales since the Covid-19 pandemic began in the UK last year is to go ahead in Llandrindod Wells in November.
 
MWT Cymru has announced that the 2021 Mid Wales Tourism and Hospitality Conference will be held at The Metropole Hotel on November 9 from 9.45am to 3.30pm
 
To help ensure a safe conference, everyone attending must have an up to date NHS Covid pass, details of which are available at https://covid-status.service.nhsx.nhs.uk/
 
“We all have a responsibility to keep each other safe at this year’s conference,” said Val Hawkins, MWT Cymru’s chief executive. “Whilst the success of the vaccine programme in Wales has provided us with the opportunity to meet in-person this year, we all must take steps to stop the spread of COVID-19.”
 
MWT Cymru is an independent organisation that represents more than 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Powys, Ceredigion and the Meirionnydd region of Gwynedd.
 
“The tourism and hospitality sector has been one of the economic sectors hardest hit by the pandemic,” said Mrs Hawkins. “The focus of this year’s conference is to explore how individual businesses, communities and organisations can pull together and rebuild as we move forward to 2022 and beyond.
 
“With the unlikely return of the international market to the levels seen pre-pandemic for another few years, destinations across the UK will be focusing their attention on the domestic and staycation trend. With increased destination competition, how will Mid Wales compete? 
 
“Our conference provides an opportunity to cover topics that matter most to tourism and hospitality businesses. It is an event not to be missed, no matter how big or small your business is.
 
“The conference is designed to give businesses a clearer idea of what's going on, what's changing and what we can all do to better work together to keep Mid Wales at the forefront of people's minds.”
 
Delegates will hear from experts in their fields and have an opportunity to network with other tourism and hospitality professionals, industry leaders, suppliers and business support organisations.
 
The line-up of speakers for the conference, which is being sponsored by pan-Wales apprenticeship provider Cambrian Training Company and supported by Visit Wales, will be announced in the next two weeks. For more information and to book tickets visit www.midwalestourismconference.co.uk
 
Picture caption:
 
MWT Cymru’s membership and marketing manager Claire Owen chats with Populate Social founder Dan Simmons at the Mid Wales Tourism Conference in 2019.
 
Ends
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