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 Economic Resilience Fund (ERF) – eligibility checker now open; Lateral Flow Tests for visitors to Wales; Welsh Government announces three-pronged approach to address “second homes crisis”; UKH Guidance for Hospitality in Wales; Self-Employment Income Support Scheme – Fifth Grant; VisitBritain: Business Events Domestic Support Fund launched; The Agricultural Shows Innovation Fund; Steps to Sustainability – Heritage Fund Programme; Health Surveillance Scheme; Business Banking Resolution Service; Useful COVID-19 information.
COVID-19 Economic Resilience Fund (ERF) – eligibility checker now open
The eligibility checker is open on the Business Wales website, which will allow businesses to check their eligibility for the support and the amount of support they are eligible to apply for, which will help them to start preparing their applications.
The fund will open to applications from Tuesday 13 July 2021, and will close on Friday 23 July 2021.
You can find more details on the Business Wales website.
Lateral Flow Tests for visitors to Wales
Rapid lateral flow tests are for people who do not have coronavirus symptoms and are available from local collection points or ordered online for those who meet the eligibility criteria. Visitors to Wales are encouraged to take a test at home before travelling and to bring kits with them to continue testing while on holiday. Only those who have a negative test result and no symptoms of coronavirus should travel. We are not encouraging businesses to stock up on tests for their customers or guests.
Read more on getting tested and the role of Lateral flow and PCR tests.
Welsh Government announces three-pronged approach to address “second homes crisis”
Minister for Climate Change Julie James has set out an “ambitious three-pronged approach” to address the impact of second home ownership on Wales’ communities. The new plan has fairness at its heart, ensuring that everyone in Wales can have access to good quality, affordable housing. The three-pronged approach will focus on:
- support - addressing affordability and availability of housing,
- regulatory framework and system - covering planning law and the introduction of a statutory registration scheme for holiday accommodation; and
- a fairer contribution - using national and local taxation systems to ensure second home owners make a fair and effective contribution to the communities in which they buy.
Read the announcement in full on Gov.Wales.
UKH Guidance for Hospitality in Wales
The guidance has been updated and is available on the UK Hospitality website.
Self-Employment Income Support Scheme – Fifth Grant
Claim the fifth grant if you think that your business profit will be impacted by coronavirus (COVID-19) between 1 May 2021 and 30 September 2021.
If you’re eligible based on your tax returns, HMRC will contact you from mid-July to give you a date that the claims service will be available to you from. It will be given to you either by email, letter or within the online service. The online service to claim the fifth grant will be available from late July 2021.
Visit the Business Wales website for more details.
VisitBritain: Business Events Domestic Support Fund launched
A new fund supporting the events industry recovery will provide financial support to not-for-profit organisations hosting domestic business events from 21 June to 17 December 2021. The new Domestic Support Fund is designed to offer financial support to kick start the return of business events and to showcase that the UK is ready to meet again and has adapted to new ways of meeting in a COVID-19 secure environment.
You can find more details on the Business Wales website.
The Agricultural Shows Innovation Fund
Agricultural Societies and Shows have a long and prestigious history and are at the centre of rural communities in Wales. Each one has an important role in promoting sustainable farming and food production to the wider public and in supporting community cohesion, our culture, and the wellness agenda.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, most, if not all, agricultural shows across Wales were cancelled in 2020 and a large number will be cancelled in 2021. It is important that agricultural show Societies can return to a position of some normality following the pandemic which includes the reintroduction of agricultural shows across Wales.
The Royal Welsh Agricultural Society (RWAS) is administering the Agricultural Shows Innovation Fund (the Innovation Fund) on behalf of the Welsh Government. Visit the Business Wales website for more details.
The Royal Welsh Show will go ahead through a virtual platform between 19-22 July and will be featured on the Society's social media channels, where followers will be able to enjoy an array of informative videos.
Steps to Sustainability – Heritage Fund Programme
Heritage organisations across the UK are under increasing pressure and financial constraints, with many facing extreme challenges to ensure a stable future. With the additional impact of Covid-19, a culture of enterprise to build a sustainable and resilient heritage sector is needed now more than ever.
Steps to Sustainability, a new National Lottery Heritage Fund programme delivered by the Social Enterprise Academy, will provide a pathway of support to address these challenges. It will help your organisation to be ambitious, forward-thinking and deliver exciting new projects.
The closing date for applications is 23 July 2021.
Visit the Business Wales website for more details.
Health Surveillance Scheme
Health and safety law requires health surveillance for some health risks. Health surveillance is a scheme of repeated health checks which are used to identify ill health caused by work. Health and safety law requires health surveillance when your workers remain exposed to health risks after you have put controls in place.
You can find more details on the Business Wales website.
Business Banking Resolution Service
The BBRS provides a free, accessible and independent service to resolve disputes between eligible businesses and participating banks.
Business representatives and the banking sector have worked together to design the BBRS to address ongoing complaints from businesses that are not eligible for the Financial Ombudsman Service and so that they have an alternative to challenging a bank in court.
You can find more details on the Business Wales website.
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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