Coronavirus: Tourism Industry Update
The situation is developing quickly. Please follow the news reports and for latest advice regularly visit the Public Health Wales website and the Business Wales website
BULLETIN CONTENTS - Tourism Business COVID-19 Barometer; Tourism research; Visit Wales safely this Bank Holiday and planning autumn visits; Weddings – guidance; Downloadable assets/toolkits for your business to use; Keeping records of staff, customers, and visitors: Test, Trace, Protect; HMRC – keep up to date with the latest information; Air conditioning and ventilation during the coronavirus outbreak.
Tourism Business COVID-19 Barometer
We’re very grateful to the 800 businesses across Wales that contributed to the latest Tourism Business COVID-19 Barometer, published this week. Findings show that although Wales has had a busy few weeks welcoming guests, an extended period of staycations through the autumn is needed to boost business. Feedback from the barometer, alongside regular communications with groups such as the 4 regional fora continues to be invaluable. The full Business Barometer report covering 26 July to 6 August is online now.
A summary of recent tourism research for Wales and the UK is now available. This includes details of COVID-19 related Welsh Government research, and links to further external sources.
Ahead of the bank holiday, Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism Dafydd Elis-Thomas has reinforced the need for visitors, businesses and communities to work together to keep Wales safe and said: “Only by us all doing our part and taking personal responsibility for our actions can we continue to tackle coronavirus”.
In the press notice on 25 August, the Minister also highlighted the importance of encouraging autumn business: “Although we’re approaching the last of the summer bank holidays, Wales also has so much to offer in the autumn – and planning days out and discovering, in a responsible manner, what’s on our doorstep will help to extend the season and support Wales’ visitor economy.”
Weddings – guidance
We know that wedding receptions are an important aspect of many businesses. A reception (wedding only) can now be held after the date of service subject to the wedding taking place on or after 22 August 2020. This does not apply to any other service such as wakes or christenings. The latest guidance for local authorities, approved premises and places of worship on marriages and civil partnerships is online and includes links to operational risk assessment considerations for wedding venues and those hosting wedding events.
We realise that it’s sometimes hard to keep up with what is available – the below links will help you find what practical resources and toolkits are there to help you.
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Visit Wales Safely assets including an industry guide, and downloads including posters to help share the Addo (Wales’ Promise) messages and also a specific collection of images that have been carefully selected to reflect open spaces and social distancing. (If it’s the first time that you’ve used the site, it will only take a 1 minute sign up for you to register – as well as the above it gives you access to a huge library of free images and other information).
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Keep Wales Safe at Work : Legal Guidance / Workplace Guidance and Toolkits & Resources.
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Keep Wales Safe general resources including posters to download.
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Trace Test Protect toolkit and resources including record keeping (see the item below).
Keeping records of staff, customers, and visitors: Test, Trace, Protect (TTP)
Please use assets such the bilingual posters to help explain to customers why all hospitality businesses and high-risk settings must collect data from customers, as a legal requirement, i.e. their name and phone number, to assist with the Test Trace Protect (TTP) approach, in case of an outbreak.
Reminder: the following businesses or premises must collect and retain contact information:
- Hospitality, including pubs, bars, restaurants and cafes.
- Cinemas.
- Close contact services including hairdressers, barbers, beauticians, tattooists, sports and massage therapists.
- Swimming pools, indoor fitness studios, gyms, spas or other indoor leisure centres or facilities.
Collecting and retaining contact information for 21 days is a legal requirement in the above cases. Download and save this summary of how to keep records of staff, customers and visitors which covers the principal areas and should be used alongside the detailed information which is included in the full Welsh Government Keeping records of staff, customers and visitors guidance. The guidance also addresses practical considerations around areas such as compliance with GDPR and how to manage customer queries e.g. if, after requesting and explaining the rationale, the individual still does not want to share their details, and you are under a duty to collect those details, they should not be allowed on the premises.
Accommodation providers collect visitor data through bookings, as a matter of course. This information should continue to be collated and maintained in line with Welsh Government TTP guidelines.
The HMRC’s COVID-19 YouTube playlist is where you’ll find details of all live and recorded webinars in relation to COVID-19 announcements, the videos provide an overview of the support available to help businesses, self-employed individuals and employers and their employees deal with the economic impact of COVID-19. Visit the Business Wales website for more details.
The Health and Safety Executive have updated their guidance on air conditioning and ventilation during the coronavirus outbreak. The guidance is based on the latest information and may be updated as and when new information becomes available.
Employers must, by law, ensure an adequate supply of fresh air in the workplace and this has not changed. For further information please visit the Business Wales website.
Stay up to date with tourism industry news
We are committed to providing the support and assurance the business community needs during these unprecedented difficult times and have issued several Coronavirus (COVID-19) related bulletins which can be found on the Tourism Industry Coronavirus (COVID-19) Bulletins page.
Business Wales is providing businesses with tailored support and advice about dealing with coronavirus, from financial and supply chain planning to advice on staffing issues. We would advise Tourism businesses and stakeholders in Wales wanting specific guidance to visit the Business Wales website or call Business Wales helpline on 03000 6 03000, and to regularly visit the Public Health Wales website for up-to-date public health information for you, your staff and your visitors.
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