- Minister meeting with sector and wants to be biggest
supporter of tourism
- Welsh Government consulting on changes to 182-day threshold
and committed to reforming business rates to help industry
Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy, , wants to be the biggest
supporter of tourism and work with the sector to make Wales a
world-class visitor destination.
He recently met with the four chairs of Wales' Regional Tourism
Fora to hear their thoughts on how government can support the
sector. The Minister also plans to meet other industry
representatives.
At a visit to the Elan Valley Visitor Centre today, the Minister
said:
I want this Welsh Government to be tourism's biggest supporter.
We want to work with the sector to make Wales a world-class
visitor destination offering an authentic croeso' while helping
businesses to grow, innovate and succeed.
Tourism is vitally important to the Welsh economy, generating
around 4.3% of Wales' GVA (£3.5 billion) and over 11% of jobs
each year. It sustains communities, supports jobs and helps share
Wales' culture, language and landscape with the world.
That is why we have already committed to looking at how we can
reform business rates to support leisure and hospitality, and why
we are consulting on changes to the 182-day threshold.
I would encourage as many people in the industry as possible to
take part in that consultation. I want to hear directly from
tourism businesses about the challenges they face and the
opportunities they see, and I have started meeting
representatives from across the sector this summer.
Wales has an outstanding visitor offer and many talented tourism
operators. By working together, I believe we can make it easier
for businesses to do what they do best, help the sector thrive
and ensure more people choose Wales as a place to visit, enjoy
and return to.
On behalf of the four chairs of Wales' Regional Tourism Fora,
Steve Hughson MBE Chair of the Mid Wales Forum said:
We were pleased with early engagement by , Minister for Enterprise,
Connectivity and Energy, recently in Cardiff. It was a positive
meeting with our new Minister who indicated his strong support
for the sector.
The early announcement of the Consultation into Non-Domestic
Rates for Self Catering premises is welcomed and we look forward
to decisions based on evidence from the consultation and proposed
review of the policy. It must deliver meaningful reductions in
the current 182-day threshold, alongside workable exemptions,
creating the environment where tourism can help deliver the
government's productivity and growth strategies.
The Tourism Fora will continue to be an integral part of ensuring
government and the whole visitor economy work together to create
a more positive and sustainable outlook for this important
sector.
Notes to editors
- The four regional Tourism Fora comprise representatives from
the tourism sector across whole of Wales. Sitting within the
Visit Wales structure the Fora provide independent feedback to
government, representing the sectors views on government
policies, to help grow and sustain a productive visitor economy
across Wales.
- The four regional Tourism Fora are: Rachel Cilliers, Chair of
the South East Forum; Michael Bewick, Chair of the North Wales
Forum; , Chair of the West Wales
Forum; and Steve Hughson, Chair of the Mid Wales Forum.
