Coronavirus: Tourism Industry Update

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11 February 2021


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Coronavirus: Tourism Industry Update

Please follow the news reports and for latest advice regularly visit the Public Health Wales website and the Business Wales website


BULLETIN CONTENTS - Gŵyl Dewi 2021 St David's Day - Showcasing Wales to the world; Bounce Back Loan scheme update; Travelling out of the UK for work or business purposes; Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) update; COVID-19 UK Tourism Consumer Tracker Survey; Wales Events Industry COVID-19 Impact Survey; Further funding announced to support creative sector freelancers; Skills and Training - Personal Learning Account programme - Employee wellbeing training and support; Data protection and coronavirus – advice for organisations; Trading with the EU.


Gŵyl Dewi 2021 St David's Day - Showcasing Wales to the world

In Wales, we’ve faced many challenges recently that have reminded us of the things we hold dear — ein gilydd, ein bro a’n byd — each other, our communities, and our world.

As we head into the future with a renewed determination to do good things, St David’s Day on 1 March 2021 is an opportunity to showcase to the world the best Wales has to offer and we’re inviting you to join us.

As part of our digital festival over the St David’s Day weekend, we’ll showcase Wales across social media with stories of the people, culture, businesses and communities, including:

  • A 72 hour consumer facing social media celebration of all things Welsh (from 26 February)
  • A hero film and a suite of content in different languages for global use
  • Refreshed content on Wales.com
  • A digital programme of events that will be advertised on Wales.com  

An overview of consumer facing activity being planned for St David’s Day and how you can register your interest to join us in amplifying this content through your own channels, is available in the Getting Involved Stakeholder and Partner Pack.

Please share this with your own stakeholders - businesses, groups or organisations in Wales or international partners - who can help amplify our content or might want to get involved.

To get involved and receive the digital content toolkit when it is available, please email enquiries.wales@gov.wales. To submit a video to be included in our celebration film, please see the Filming Guide – St David’s Day and submit by 15 February.


Bounce Back Loan scheme update

Businesses that took out government-backed Bounce Back Loans to get through COVID-19 will now have greater flexibility to repay their loans.

Bounce Back Loan borrowers will now have the option to tailor payments according to their individual circumstances and now have the option to delay all repayments for a further six months.

If you already have a Bounce Back Loan but borrowed less than you were entitled to, you can top up your existing loan to your maximum amount. You must request the top-up by 31 March 2021.  Visit the Business Wales website for more details.


Do you travel out of the UK for work or business purposes?

The UK government has announced further action for outbound and inbound passengers to minimise travel across international borders and reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has confirmed that from 15 February 2021 anyone travelling to the UK from a country on the UK’s travel ban list will be required to quarantine in a UK government-approved facility for a period of 10 days.

You can find further information on the Business Wales website.


Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) update

Claims for the third SEISS grant have now closed. The last date for making a claim for the third grant was 29 January 2021.

Details about the fourth grant will be announced on 3 March 2021. Please visit GOV.UK website to find out more.


COVID-19 UK Tourism Consumer Tracker Survey

Visit Wales continues to collaborate with VisitBritain and VisitScotland in running a UK consumer tracker. The latest UK report, covering 25 – 29 January (Wave 24) can be found on the VisitBritain website.

Key findings indicate an improvement in outlook, though most believe it will take until late 2021 for normality to return and confidence in being able to take a UK trip in the first half of this year has declined.

Wales Events Industry COVID-19 Impact Survey

A summary report of the Visit Wales survey looking at the impact of COVID-19 on events organisations and the wider supply chain has been published this week.   


Further funding announced to support creative sector freelancers

Freelancers working in Wales’ creative sectors will receive a further round of support worth £8.9 million.

The new round of support funding from the Cultural Recovery Fund will mean each of the freelancers already supported will receive an additional £2,500 to support them through this extended period of reduced activity. Visit the Business Wales website for more details.


SKILLS & TRAINING:

Have your business skills needs changed as a result of COVID-19?

For information on skills and training programmes, support with recruiting staff and help to complete a simple skills profile for your business, visit the Business Wales Skills Gateway.

Personal Learning Account programme

The Personal Learning Account programme can support employers’ upskilling requirements and help businesses address future skills needs. Find out more on the Business Wales website.

Employee wellbeing training and support

Employers in Wales have long recognised the need to promote and support employee health and wellbeing including a good work-life balance and healthy lifestyle.

The benefits of addressing the physical, mental and social wellbeing of employees can lead to:

  • reduced sickness and absence levels
  • increased productivity
  • improved quality of work
  • better staff engagement
  • reduced staff turnover 

Employees who are supported to take ownership of their own wellbeing have:

  • reduced stress levels
  • more motivation
  • better morale
  • increased job satisfaction
  • a heightened awareness of colleagues’ wellbeing

Guides, tools and support are available to help you establish and develop the wellbeing culture of your business, and to involve employees in the conversation on workplace health. 


Data protection and coronavirus – advice for organisations

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) recognises the unprecedented challenges businesses and organisations are facing during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and understands that organisations that use people’s data during the pandemic may need to share information quickly. Data protection will not stop you doing that.

Read about the key principles organisations need to consider around the use of personal information on the Business Wales website.


Trading with the EU

Make sure you stay up to date with how to prepare your business for the new rules between the UK and the EU, by visiting the Business Wales EU Transition Portal.

You can also read about the Moving Goods New Guidance and news on the Rules of Origin: Check your goods comply to trade tariff-free with the EU.



Useful COVID-19 information

As each premises is different, businesses should read all guidance. This continues to be updated so please check back regularly for the latest information.


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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