News Bulletin: Wales International Inbound Tourism Fund (WIITF)

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10 December 2021


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Wales International Inbound Tourism Fund (WIITF)

A targeted revenue fund opens today designed to ensure that Wales retains and builds on the vital supply chain link with valuable international markets provided by a small sub-sector of Destination Management Companies (DMCs)/incoming operators, professional tourist guides and accredited English language schools located and operating in Wales.  These Wales-based suppliers provide a culturally sensitive business-to-business service for internationally based operators and agents who look to a local provider on the ground with the knowledge and contacts to deliver business across the whole of Wales’s visitor economy, including all accommodation types, attractions and experiences, hospitality, retail and transport. 

The Wales International Inbound Tourism Fund is intended to support the sector recover, remain resilient and ensure maximum wider visitor economy impact by enabling recipients to build on their existing itineraries to develop and promote updated programmes and packages. It is expected the work will be taken forward with sustainability in mind with a focus on:

  • increasing Spend
  • regional Spread and
  • extending the tourism Season.

This will ultimately provide a suite of new and updated sustainable inbound itineraries, language courses and bookable programmes, alongside destination promotion aimed at starting to recover Wales’ profile and business from international markets from Spring 2022 onwards. 

This is a competitive fund with a limited overall budget of £400,000. Awards will be for a minimum of £3,000 (including for sole traders), to a maximum of £50,000 for companies demonstrating typical high turnover.

Awards will be allocated to eligible companies according to an agreed programme of activity against set criteria, considered most likely to promote resilience and economic recovery for tourism in Wales in a sustainable and responsible way.

Only one application per business will be accepted.

Who can apply?

The Fund is open to applications from eligible private companies and sole traders that are Wales-based Destination Management Companies (DMCs), inbound tour operators, professional tourist guides and accredited English language schools offering tours, programmes and courses including overnight stays.

For the purposes of this Fund:

  • A Destination Management Company is a business that provides a one-stop-shop for all travel products (excluding flights), catering to specific or multiple international markets. It does not sell directly to the consumer but works purely on a business-to-business basis, i.e. to a tour operator, travel agent or travel advisor.
  • An inbound tour operator is a business specialising in developing holiday programmes and itineraries for direct sales to end international clients or to international travel agent networks. Tour operators can be generalists offering tour packages published in brochures/catalogues and sold through travel agents or they can be an FIT (Flexible Independent Traveller/Fully Independent Travel) tour operator selling tours directly to the end international client.
  • A professional tourist guide (Blue or Green Badge) is part of the Wales Official Tourist Guides Association, having passed practical and academic guiding examinations following extensive training.
  • An English language school is a private accredited institution providing language study holidays to international clients packaged in with in-Wales tourism attractions and cultural experiences.

All applicants must be able to deliver an agreed programme of activity between late January and late March 2022.

How to register to apply:

To register for an application pack you will need to email: InboundTourismFund@gov.wales and confirm you meet all of the following criteria to show that you are potentially an eligible applicant.   Deadline to register for an application pack: Wednesday 22 December at midday.

  • Must be a Wales-based Destination Management Company (DMC), inbound tour operator, professional tourist guide or accredited English language school.
  • Must have a permanent place of business in Wales (i.e. registered office address in Wales per Companies House or a physical business premises in Wales).
  • Must be able to demonstrate recent previous experience (2018-2019) of operating programmes and working in their identified international markets (evidenced by previous itineraries / sales into Wales and previous marketing plans).
  • Applicants must be incorporated organisations listed on Companies House to allow for formal business checks to be carried out or a sole trader.
  • Applicants must be able to demonstrate a substantial material impact from the COVID-19 pandemic international restrictions which has not been offset by domestic/other business.

If you are not eligible for this fund our Business Wales Service and the Development Bank of Wales are also available to discuss a range of support options, including practical information, business advice or signpost you to relevant agencies.

Information can be accessed via the website: Supporting businesses in Wales | Business Wales (gov.wales) or call the helpline on 03000 6 03000.


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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