Coronavirus: Tourism Industry Update

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12 April 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 - COVID-19 restriction relaxations in Wales brought forward; Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance for Tourism and Hospitality Businesses; Skills and Training; Cultural Recovery Fund; Useful COVID-19 information.


COVID-19 restriction relaxations in Wales brought forward

The Welsh Government will be accelerating elements of its programme to relax COVID-19 restrictions as cases of new infections continue to fall across Wales, the First Minister has announced.

People will be able to form an extended household, visit the gym or take part in organised outdoor activities a week earlier than planned, as the public health situation - and vaccination rates - continue to improve.

The First Minister last week set out a detailed timetable for moving Wales firmly into alert level three. But some of these measures will now be introduced sooner than planned as cases have fallen markedly from 37 cases per 100,000 people to fewer than 21 per 100,000 this week.

The pressure on hospitals also continues to ease. Confirmed cases in hospital beds continue to reduce, and now stands at 89. his is 26% lower than last Thursday and is the lowest position since 22 September 2020.

The planned opening date for organised outdoor activities and outdoor wedding receptions will be moved forward to Monday 26 April from 3 May.

And, from Monday 3 May, a week earlier than previously signalled, gyms, leisure centres and fitness facilities will be able to reopen for individual or one-to-one training. Extended households will also be allowed again, enabling two households to meet and have contact indoors.

First Minister, Mark Drakeford said:

“The public health situation in Wales continues to improve thanks to everything you are doing to help us control this awful virus. Cases of the virus are falling and our incredible vaccination programme continues to go from strength to strength. 

“Last week, we set out our programme to further re-open the economy and relax the restrictions we have lived with for so long, as part of our careful, step-by-step approach to keeping everyone safe. This week, because of the improvements we continue to see, we can bring forward some of our plans. 

This is only possible because of the efforts everyone is making to protect themselves and their loved ones.”

From today, Monday 12 April, the following relaxations are in place:

  • The full return of children to schools for face-to-face education, all post-16 learners return to further education and training centres, and university campuses are able to open for blended face-to-face/online learning for all students
  • All remaining shops reopen, completing the phased reopening of non-essential retail
  • All remaining close contact services open, including mobile services
  • Travel restrictions on traveling into and out of Wales are lifted. However, restrictions on travel to countries outside the Common Travel Area without a reasonable excuse, remain in place. The Common Travel Area means the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland
  • Wedding ‘show-arounds’ by appointment are allowed
  • Restrictions on political canvassing are removed, subject to canvassers doing so safely

Further easements to restrictions in the coming weeks will be subject to the public health situation remaining favourable. These will be confirmed at the next three-weekly review of the coronavirus regulations on 22 April.

On Monday 26 April:    

  • Outdoor attractions, including funfairs and theme parks, would be allowed to reopen
  • Outdoor hospitality can resume, including at cafes, pubs and restaurants. Indoor hospitality will remain closed except for takeaways
  • Organised outdoor activities for up to 30 people can again take place (previously Monday 3 May)
  • Weddings receptions can take place outdoors for up to 30 people (previously Monday 3 May)

On Monday 3 May (previously Monday 10 May):

  • Gyms, leisure centres and fitness facilities can reopen. This will include individual or one-to-one training but not exercise classes
  • Extended household will again allow two households to meet and have contact indoors

As set out in the revised Coronavirus Control Plan, a small number of outdoor pilot events of between 200 and 1,000 people are also being planned.


Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance for Tourism and Hospitality Businesses

As we look at a phased re-opening, you need to be aware of the Guidance for Tourism and Hospitality businesses

As each premises is different, businesses should read all guidance to understand the measures to be considered to re-open the business safely.

The following additional measures are intended to provide further advice for self-contained accommodation businesses and must be considered in line with the UKHospitality Wales Guidance and the Guidance for Tourism and Hospitality.

Businesses should also consider, where appropriate:

  • Strengthening their policy on safe disposal of face coverings for staff and visitors
  • Introducing measures for staff and visitors, on arrival, such as taking temperature tests, asking people to sanitise their hands and asking questions around whether they are displaying any symptoms.
  • Considering the flow of guests/visitors and how to avoid any household mixing by keeping guests/visitors apart as they move around the premises throughout their visit/stay, with particular regard to enclosed public areas such as lifts, stairs and corridors
  • Instructing guests/visitors to move through enclosed public areas as quickly as possible, and to avoid shouting or singing in such areas
  • Within accommodation, ensuring that guests keep the doors to their rooms closed at all times, apart from when entering and leaving.
  • Staggering room service/laundry delivery etc to rooms, to avoid guests opening doors and coming out at the same time.
  • Reviewing their incident and emergency procedures to ensure they reflect the physical distancing principles as far as possible, including considering how to minimise household-mixing when congregating in fire assembly areas.

Welsh Government have produced the five key steps that all those responsible for work in Wales should implement to Keep Wales Safe.

Please visit the Business Wales Keep Wales Safe at Work pages for further information for your business on dealing with the Coronavirus outbreak.

A list of Frequently Asked Questions in relation to Coronavirus is also updated regularly on Gov.Wales.  


Tourism and hospitality businesses must take all reasonable measures to minimise the risk of exposure to the virus and should not knowingly accept customers in breach of the travel restrictions.


Skills and Training:

The following resources/training may be helpful to businesses looking to prepare themselves and their staff for re-opening:

All Hands to the Pump:

  • Free support for the licensed trade eg free to access videos, templates and other resources for licensees, regulators and place managers from hospitality partners. Resources include Conflict Management, Customer Safety and Reporting COVID.

Skills Platform:

CPL Learning:

  • Ready to Serve programme - Team Member  :  Developed to support operators and their teams in the implementation of a safe and effective return to work, adhering to the COVID secure principles. Cost: £7.50 per person
  • Reopening following lockdown – Manager - Ready to Serve  :  Developed to allow those in a management or supervisory role to understand the actions and responsibilities they have in ensuring their site and teams are ready to serve customers once again. Cost: FREE.

For up-to-date information on other skills, recruitment and training support for your business, as well as other support such as Wellbeing for employers and employees, visit our Skills pages.


Cultural Recovery Fund

The Cultural Recovery Fund, launched last summer, provided £63.3 million in 2020 to 2021 to support theatres, music venues, heritage sites, events, museums, libraries, galleries, independent cinemas and freelancers. The fund will be delivered jointly by Welsh Government, the Arts Council of Wales and local authorities.

The Fund is now open for applications and will close on the 20 April 2021 at 5pm. 

The timing for the Fund for freelancers will be announced separately.

Visit the Business Wales website for more details.


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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