Coronavirus: Tourism Industry Update

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29 July 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 -  Written statement: International travel changes from 2 August 2021; Travel: Coronavirus; Vaccination saves lives: new toolkit to help employers encourage employees to get COVID-19 vaccine; COVID-19 Economic Resilience Fund (ERF) Business Support; A new World Heritage Site for Wales; You can now make July CJRS claims; Employers – find out how you can get involved in the Kickstart scheme; Having good ventilation will help reduce COVID-19 transmission at work; Acas publishes new advice on hybrid working; The NCSC's Early Warning service; Useful COVID-19 information.


Written statement: International travel changes from 2 August 2021

Written Statement has been made by Eluned Morgan MS, Minister for Health and Social Services:

On 28 July the UK Government decided to permit travellers from the EU and US who have been fully vaccinated to visit the UK without having to self-isolate on arrival.

There remain clear public health risks posed by re-opening international travel and removing quarantine restrictions to US and EU fully vaccinated amber arrivals at this time. Without self-isolation requirements upon arrival there is a higher risk of importing cases and variants of concern (VoCs) from abroad. Vaccines will reduce this risk, but only if they are effective against VoCs. This is why we continue to caution against international travel for non-essential reasons this summer.

We regret the UK Government’s proposals to further remove quarantine requirements. However, as we share an open border with England it would be ineffective to introduce separate arrangements for Wales. Therefore, we will be aligning with the other UK administrations and implementing this decision for Wales.  We look to the UK Government to provide assurances that processes will be in place to ensure those travelling in to the UK have been fully vaccinated. Also, in doing so, we will continue to press the UK Government for reassurances that it will be maintaining consistent and robust PCR surveillance - including pre-departure tests, PCR testing on day 2 and the genomic sequencing of results as one mitigation against importing vaccine escape variants.


Travel: Coronavirus

For the latest information and guidance on travel in and around Wales – from international travel to public transport when in Wales – please visit Travel: coronavirus - Guidance and services on the Welsh Government website.


Vaccination saves lives: new toolkit to help employers encourage employees to get COVID-19 vaccine

The Welsh Government is encouraging employers to do all they can to support their workforce to get vaccinated.  A new toolkit was launched (26 July) to support businesses and organisations to help their workers get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Vaccination has helped to weaken the link between coronavirus infections and serious illness and hospital admissions. But there is a risk that more people could fall seriously ill if rates of vaccination do not increase further as the delta variant continues to spread in Wales and the rest of the UK.

Read the announcement in full on Gov.Wales


COVID-19 Economic Resilience Fund (ERF) Business Support

Applications for the ERF with a turnover of more than £85,000 are now closed.  Local Authorities across Wales have opened applications for those businesses that are eligible with a turnover of less than £85,000. This grant application will remain open until 9 August 2021.

You can find more details on the Business Wales website.


You can now make July CJRS claims

Claims under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) are now open for pay periods in July 2021.   You must submit your claim for July 2021 by 16 August 2021.         

From 1 August 2021, the government will pay 60% of wages up to a maximum cap of £1,875 for the hours the employee is on furlough.

You can find more details on the Business Wales website.


A new World Heritage Site for Wales

The slate landscape of north-west Wales has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, making it the fourth World Heritage Site in Wales.  Led by Gwynedd Council, the inscription is the culmination of over 15 years of hard work by partners including Cadw to record, safeguard and recognise the living legacy of the slate landscape of Gwynedd. 

Read the announcement in full on Gov.Wales.


Employers – find out how you can get involved in the Kickstart scheme

The Kickstart Scheme provides funding to create new 6-month jobs for 16 to 24 year olds on Universal Credit who are at risk of long term unemployment.

Visit the Business Wales website for more details.


Having good ventilation will help reduce COVID-19 transmission at work

HSE’s updated guidance will help you identify poor ventilation in work areas and take practical steps to improve it. This can help reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading in your workplace.

You can find more details on the Business Wales website.


Acas publishes new advice on hybrid working

Acas has published new advice to help employers consider whether hybrid working could be an option for their workplace and how to fairly introduce it.  Hybrid working is a type of flexible working where staff split their time between working remotely and in their employer’s workplace.

You can find more details on the Business Wales website.


The NCSC's Early Warning service

Early Warning is a free National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) service designed to inform your organisation of potential cyber attacks on your network, as soon as possible.  Early Warning is open to all UK organisations who hold a static IP address or domain name.

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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