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 - First Minister confirms phased move to alert level one; Restrictions from 7 June 2021; Mitigating Guidance for hospitality businesses in Wales; New variants of coronavirus and travel – Frequently Asked Questions; Reminder: Contact tracing - Support for people who are self-isolating; Fifth SEISS grant confirmed; Skills and recruitment; College Vacancies Boards; Disability Confident Webinars; Anglesey To Pilot Accessible Tourism Scheme; Make your business accessible; Wales Start-Up Awards: shortlist announced; Reminder: EU Settlement Scheme - deadline 30 June; VisitBritain: Business Events Domestic Support Fund launched; Scams warning for tax credits customers; Useful COVID-19 information.
First Minister confirms phased move to alert level one
Up to 30 people are now able to meet outdoors and large outdoor activities are able to take place from Monday 7 June, as Wales moves into alert level one, First Minister Mark Drakeford announced on Friday 4 June.
The size of extended households can be increased to up to three households, and a further household with a single adult or single adult with caring responsibilities will also be able to join.
The move to alert level one will be phased, with outdoor events opening first. Ministers will review the public health situation again, ahead of 21 June, to determine whether indoor events can restart.
The two-stage approach will enable more people to be vaccinated – and complete their two-dose course – amid growing concerns about the spread of the delta variant of the virus across the UK.
Read the announcement in full on Gov.Wales.
Restrictions from 7 June 2021
Updated guidance is now available on Gov.Wales and includes:
- A summary of what you must do and what is open.
- Restrictions: frequently asked questions.
- Gathering with other people.
- Business closures: restrictions
Mitigating Guidance for hospitality businesses in Wales
The latest Mitigating guidance for hospitality businesses in Wales is updated regularly. Full details are available in the UKHospitality Wales Guidance.
New variants of coronavirus and travel – Frequently Asked Questions
On 26 May the First Minister issued a statement on the new variants of coronavirus. In preparing for the summer tourism season, the Welsh Government is urging anyone planning a break in Wales from an area with higher rates of coronavirus in the UK to test themselves twice weekly, using the free COVID-19 lateral flow tests, before they travel. Only those who have a negative test result and no symptoms of coronavirus should travel. It is also advising travellers to bring lateral flow testing kits with them to continue regular testing while on holiday – this is an additional measure to help keep Wales safe.
Read the new variants of coronavirus and travel Frequently Asked Questions in our newsletter issued 28 May 2021.
You should also read the latest information published on Gov.UK for those areas of England where the new Delta variant is spreading.
Rapid lateral flow tests are for people who do not have coronavirus symptoms and are available from local collection points or ordered online. More information is available on Gov.Wales - Get rapid lateral flow COVID-19 tests if you do not have symptoms.
Read more on getting tested and the role of Lateral flow and PCR tests.
More information about cases of variants of concern are published on the UK surveillance page (updated weekly) and via the Public Health Wales website (updated twice a week – under the variant surveillance tab).
Reminder: Contact tracing - Support for people who are self-isolating
Anyone who has tested positive for coronavirus, or been identified as a close contact of a positive case, must self-isolate for 10 days and follow the advice of NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect. Those who have been identified as a close contact are advised to take a test on the first day of their isolation period and again on day 8. Even if they test negative they must still complete the full 10 day isolation period. Testing for close contacts is to help NHS Wales TTP trace the spread of the virus and not to be used to ‘release’ contacts out of isolation early. Visit Gov.Wales for more information on the NHS Wales TTP process.
Employers are under a duty to take all reasonable measures to minimise the risk of exposure to coronavirus at premises where work is carried out. One of the reasonable measures is to allow and enable an employee to self-isolate if they have tested positive or have had close contact with someone who has tested positive. Therefore employers may be liable for an offence if they do not comply with this measure. More information on support for workers and self-employed.
The self-isolation support scheme is for those who cannot work from home and must self-isolate. For more information and to check eligibility.
Fifth SEISS grant confirmed
HMRC has confirmed that the fifth grant available under the Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will open to applications from late July 2021. The grant will cover the five months from May to September 2021, is taxable and will be paid out in a single instalment. Guidance for claiming the grant will be available by the end of June 2021. For further information please visit GOV.UK.
Skills and recruitment
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Conwy Borough Council have introduced a new recruitment campaign for the tourism and hospitality industry – My Conwy Career. This campaign will showcase what it’s like working in the tourism and hospitality industry by using real-life examples from employees currently working in the sector. If your business is based in the county of Conwy visit My Conwy Career for more details.
For more information about the campaign, or if you have any employees who would like to be featured in a case study, email jasmin.koffler@conwy.gov.uk. If you have any job vacancies that you would like support recruiting for, email the Engagement Officer communitiesforwork@conwy.gov.uk.
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Gwaith Gwynedd supports people to get into work and also supports local businesses with recruitment. For more information visit the Gwynedd Council website - phone: 01286 674698 / 07980923934 or email GwaithGwynedd@gwynedd.llyw.cymru.
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Coleg Cambria has six sites delivering courses across North East Wales. Business can find out how to advertise vacancies on the online Job Shop. Information is also available on offering work experience to students.
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Coleg Sir Gar campuses span Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion and businesses can advertise job roles across all campuses. If you would like more information please contact Filipe Nunes, Filipe.Nunes@colegsirgar.ac.uk or 07468 470 245.
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Advertise opportunities at Cardiff Met - You can advertise vacancies with students directly via the Cardiff Met internal job site, MetHub. To advertise a role to students please register and create an account. Your account will be approved in 2-3 business days and, once approved, you can upload jobs instantly. Register with MetHub online. Further help is available from careers@cardiffmet.ac.uk.
We will continue to collate and share this type of information, in the meantime please contact your local college to see if they can help with advertising your vacancies.
For further information on skills, recruitment and training support for your business, as well as other support such as Wellbeing for employers and employees, visit our Skills pages.
Disability Confident Webinars
The UK Ability Networks will be running free 30 minute webinars to deliver practical and useful information to employers to keep them closely connected to the Disability Confident employer community, so that during and after COVID-19 employers receive timely and appropriate support to help them attract, recruit, retain and progress disabled people in work.
To do this in the most effective way, a number of Disability Confident Leaders have been working together and have set up a series of practical national webinars, covering a range of employer topics. Visit the Business Wales website for more details.
Anglesey To Pilot Accessible Tourism Scheme
Anglesey has been chosen by PIWS, a community initiative, for a pilot scheme which aims to put Access for All at the heart of the island’s tourism and leisure sector.
Tourism and leisure businesses can join the pilot scheme for free on the PIWS website at www.piws.co.uk and can take advantage of the guidance, training and support PIWS is offering to help them become more accessible. The website also features case studies on Anglesey Sea Zoo, The Bull in Beaumaris, RibRide, Plas Arthur Leisure Centre and the town of Amlwch to highlight how they are addressing the needs of visitors with accessibility issues and includes “Purple Promotions” for 2021.
Make your business accessible
Do you want to extend your season, obtain loyal customers and gain a share of a £15.3 billion market? Find guidance, tools and resources to help you provide access for all on the VisitBritain website.
Wales Start-Up Awards: shortlist announced
Due to take place on 9 September 2021, the Wales Start-Up Awards will celebrate the success of new businesses and recognise businesses across all sectors and all parts of Wales.
The shortlist for the 2021 Awards has been announced: special congratulations to those in the Tourism and Leisure Start-Up category.
Reminder: EU Settlement Scheme - deadline 30 June
The deadline for EU citizens to apply for settled status in the UK is 30 June 2021. Those living in Wales are being urged to take-up the free support on offer from Welsh Government to complete their application.
The Home Office’s EU Settlement Scheme offers EU, non-EU EEA and Swiss citizens, and their eligible family members the opportunity to protect their residency now the UK has left the EU. You can find more details on the Business Wales website.
VisitBritain: Business Events Domestic Support Fund launched
VisitBritain have launched a new Domestic Support Fund to kick-start the return of business events in the UK. The fund is available for not-for-profit organisations and charities hosting meetings, conferences and events in the UK from 21 June to 17 December 2021. Events from 100 to 500 delegates taking place in the UK are eligible to apply.
The financial support available is based on the number of delegates attending with up to £15,000 available for each event. For full details, visit the VisitBritain website.
To note, the guidance on events in Wales can be found on the Gov.Wales website - Keep Wales Safe: creating COVID safe events
Scams warning for tax credits customers
Tax credits customers should be vigilant and alert to potential scams, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has warned. Anyone doing their tax credits renewal who has received a tax or benefits scam email or text might be tricked into thinking it was from HMRC and share their personal details with criminals, or even transfer money for a bogus overpayment. 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.
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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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