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: Review of the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restriction) (No.5) (Wales) Regulations 2020; Growing tourism for the good of Wales; Welsh Government confirms international travel changes and calls for PCR test retention; Go North Wales Tourism Awards 2021; COVID-19 UK tourism consumer tracker survey – Wales profile; Wales tourism accommodation occupancy survey: April to June 2021; Redeveloped Llandudno Museum is boost for town and visitors; Disabled People’s Employment Champions; Disability Confident; Having good ventilation will help reduce COVID-19 transmission at work; Information on new legislation coming in March 2022; Farmer & Landowner survey - Ein Llwybrau Byw / Our Living Trails; Deadline for COVID-19 sick pay
Written Statement: Review of the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restriction) (No.5) (Wales) Regulations 2020
The Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) Regulations 2020 require that a review of the coronavirus restrictions is undertaken every three weeks. The most recent review was undertaken on 16 September.
Draft amended Regulations have been laid today that will require people to show an NHS COVID pass to enter large events and high risk establishments, such as nightclubs, from 11 October. This will be debated by members of the Senedd on 5 October.
The COVID Pass has been used in Wales for some events over the summer and some premises already require the pass to be shown as a condition of entry. The pass allows people to prove they have either been fully vaccinated or to provide evidence of a negative lateral flow test.
We do not introduce such measures lightly: we want to support venues to stay open and enable events to continue taking place through a potentially difficult autumn and winter.
As we head into winter, it is vital we all work together to keep Wales safe and I urge members to support this on 5 October.
Read the announcement on Gov.Wales.
Growing tourism for the good of Wales
On World Tourism Day, Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething, said he wants to grow Welsh tourism in a way that supports Wales’ communities, land and people.
Monday 27 September marked World Tourism Day, a day focused on driving global awareness of tourism’s social, cultural, political and economic value.
This year UNWTO (World Tourism Organisation) designated World Tourism Day as a day to focus on Tourism for Inclusive Growth; an opportunity to celebrate tourism’s unique ability to ensure that nobody is left behind and look to the future.
The shared plan for the recovery of the visitor economy sets out how the challenges of the pandemic also present opportunities to tackle many of the long-standing barriers to the industry such as, seasonality, staff shortages and skills.
Visit Wales will soon be launching a new autumn and winter campaign.
Read more on Gov.Wales.
Welsh Government confirms international travel changes and calls for PCR test retention
Welsh Government has confirmed it will merge the green and amber travel lists into one and remove the requirement for pre-departure testing for those fully vaccinated.
The changes are intended to be made by 4 October, in alignment with the new UK government system.
A decision on moving away from PCR tests is still to be made but the Welsh Government has outlined its opposition to the change and is calling on the UK government to reverse its decision.
The Welsh Government is also considering which countries to expand the vaccine certification recognition system to over the coming weeks.
Read the announcement in full on Gov.Wales.
Go North Wales Tourism Awards 2021
The Go North Wales Tourism Awards are back for 2021 and is now open for entries.
The purpose of the awards is to celebrate and recognise excellence in the region’s hospitality and tourism sectors.
The closing date for entries is 10 October 2021.
Visit the Business Wales website for more details.
COVID-19 UK tourism consumer tracker survey – Wales profile
The latest report on consumer sentiment and trip intentions from the UK market, focussing on Wales residents, visitors and intended visitors, will be available from 1 October on the Welsh Government website - reporting on fieldwork undertaken from the 9 August to 10 September 2021: Three in ten UK residents plan to take a trip this autumn or winter and Wales is the seventh most preferred destination, with all lifestages likely to book their next overnight trip closer to the date than normal.
Wales tourism accommodation occupancy survey: April to June 2021
The latest report on visitor accommodation occupancy and performance is available on the Welsh Government website reporting on the second quarter of 2021.
Redeveloped Llandudno Museum is boost for town and visitors
The newly reopened Llandudno Museum is a further boost for the town, Minister for North Wales Lesley Griffiths said after visiting the attraction.
The museum reopened earlier this month following a major redevelopment project.
The redevelopment was funded by the Heritage Lottery fund with match-funding from a number of organisations. The Welsh Government provided over £350,000 in grant funding towards the development.
Read more on Gov.Wales.
Disabled People’s Employment Champions
Do you want practical advice on how to attract, recruit, develop and retain disabled employees? The Welsh Government’s Disabled People Employment Champions can offer support to help employers create a representative workforce that’s open to all.
Having a diverse workforce can:
- Increase the number of high-quality applicants
- Bring additional skills to the business
- Create a workforce that reflects the diverse range of customers it serves
Find out more about Disabled People’s Employment and Disabled People’s Employment Champions.
Disability Confident
Disability Confident organisations play a leading role in changing attitudes for the better. They’re changing behaviour and cultures in their own businesses, networks and communities, and reaping the benefits of inclusive recruitment practices.
The scheme helps employers recruit and retain great people, and:
- draw from the widest possible pool of talent
- secure high quality staff who are skilled, loyal and hard working
- improve employee morale and commitment by demonstrating that you treat all employees fairly
It also helps customers and other businesses identify those employers who are committed to equality in the workplace.
Find out more about the Disability Confident scheme.
Having good ventilation will help reduce COVID-19 transmission at work
HSE’s 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.
There are also some examples of how businesses have improved ventilation to reduce COVID-19 transmission in the workplace.
Information on new legislation coming in March 2022
From 21 March 2022, physically punishing children will be illegal in Wales.
The new law will apply to everyone - parents or anyone who is responsible for a child while the parents are absent. And as with other laws, it will apply to visitors to Wales too.
To raise awareness of the change in law, a campaign is underway across TV, radio and digital platforms. Take a look at the Sound of Change TV advert.
For further information visit: Ending physical punishment of children.
Farmer & Landowner survey - Ein Llwybrau Byw / Our Living Trails
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and the Welsh Government, in collaboration with Gwynedd Council, have recently launched the ‘Ein Llwybrau Byw’ / Our Living Trails project which has the long-term aim to promote and restore biodiversity along the Wales Coast Path corridor.
As part of this project, views are being sought about biodiversity on land along the Wales Coast Path.
Landowners and farmers in Wales with land along, adjoining, or near to the Wales Coast Path, are being asked to complete a short multiple-choice 20 question survey by Friday 15th October 2021, to help inform the project recommendations.
You can learn more about the project by watching this video: Our Living Trails 2021-22 (‘Ein Llwybrau Byw 2021-22’) project for Natural Resources Wales Launch.
Deadline for COVID-19 sick pay
The UK Government has updated its guidance for claims made under the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme. Employers can only claim back statutory sick pay paid to employees due to COVID-19 who were off work on or before 30 September 2021.
The Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme will repay employers the Statutory Sick Pay paid to current or former employees. This scheme is for employers.
You must submit or amend claims on or before 31 December 2021.
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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