Tourism Industry Update
BULLETIN CONTENTS: Research and Insights: Domestic GB tourism statistics (overnight trips) 2021 and GB Domestic Sentiment Tracker; Skills: Flexible Skills programme; Food Tourism Toolkit; Sustainable Tourism Wales – launching this month; Living Safely with COVID-19: A Keep Wales Safe communications toolkit; Recycling and why it’s important; Energy Bills Support Factsheet; New Healthy Working Wales guidance to help employers support staff through the cost of living crisis; Business Finance Week 2022; Recovery Loans Scheme
Research and Insights:
Domestic GB tourism statistics (overnight trips) 2021
Estimates for the volume and value of domestic overnight tourism trips taken in Wales by GB residents in 2021 have been published on the Welsh Government website. This is the first release of statistics from the new combined Great Britain Tourism Survey and Great Britain Day visits survey and covers trips and expenditure for the period April 2021 to December 2021. Between April and December 2021, Great Britain residents took 9.97 million overnight trips in Wales with 36.52 million nights and £1,979 million spent during these trips. The changes in survey methodology introduced in 2021, together with the interruption in data collection due to COVID-19, means that results published from April 2021 onwards are not directly comparable with data published for 2019 and previous years.
The first release of estimates for GB Day Trips is scheduled for December 2022.
GB Domestic Sentiment Tracker
The results from the October 2022 wave of the GB Domestic Sentiment Tracker have been published on the VisitBritain website. The latest wave of the research indicates that the cost of living crisis is very much dominating consumer concerns which is negatively impacting the number of domestic and overseas holidays people are intending to take over the next 12 months, as well as travellers planning to cut back spending on any overnight and day trips they are planning to take. The survey will continue to run monthly until April next year.
Skills:
Flexible Skills programme
Do you need to upskill your staff to help your business grow and develop? The Flexible Skills programme is designed to provide funding support to Wales-based businesses that wish to upskill their workforce in the tourism and hospitality sectors.
One business which successfully accessed the funding had this to say: “The Flexible Skills Programme helped to focus our thoughts on the training needs of our staff group, meaning that we were able to identify skills gaps and were then supported with 50% funding for the relevant training to address the need”.
To find out more about the type of training it can support – go to the Tourism and Hospitality section on Flexible Skills Programme | Business Wales Skills Gateway (gov.wales).
Food Tourism Toolkit
Food and drink go hand in hand with hospitality and tourism in Wales. Combine quality seasonal food with local ingredients, interesting places to eat and stay, some of the world's best chefs and you define the hospitality sector in Wales with its deserved reputation for excellence.
Find out why food tourism is important for Wales and for your business in the updated Food Tourism Toolkit.
Sustainable Tourism Wales – launching this month
Visit Wales have partnered with Business Wales to deliver a new business support scheme: Sustainable Tourism Wales.
Launching later this month, the scheme will provide advice and support on how to save money and promote your business using sustainability practices.
Featuring industry experts that will share their first-hand experience, Sustainable Tourism Wales aims to support tourism businesses and help you to take practical steps towards a greener business model.
The scheme will include top advice and tips as well as funding options and marketing support. Keep an eye out for further details in our future newsletters and on twitter - @VisitWalesBiz and @CroesoCymruBus.
Living Safely with COVID-19: A Keep Wales Safe communications toolkit
People across Wales are being encouraged to maintain key, protective behaviours – to keep themselves and the people around them safe.
There are actions we can all take to help reduce the risk of catching COVID-19, and other respiratory infections, such as flu, and passing them on to others.
Digital assets are available for you can use on your own channels to support and communicate the guidance
Read more on the Business Wales website.
Recycling and why it’s important
Recycle Week 2022 encouraged everyone in Wales to recycle more. Find out more about the importance of recycling and read about the 5 recycling myths.
Energy Bills Support Factsheet
The UK Government has updated its Energy Bills Support Factsheet and has set out action to support people and businesses with their energy bills. Further information is available on Energy Bills Support Factsheet | Business Wales (gov.wales).
New Healthy Working Wales guidance to help employers support staff through the cost of living crisis
Healthy Working Wales has launched new guidance for employers on 'The Cost of Living Crisis'.
The new website section provides employers with advice on how they can support their staff’s health and wellbeing through the current economic crisis. It also contains links to useful financial wellbeing services and resources, including Healthy Working Wales’ expert podcast with the Money and Pensions Service. Find out more on New Healthy Working Wales guidance to help employers support staff through the cost of living crisis | Business Wales (gov.wales).
Business Finance Week 2022
Throughout the week of 7 to 11 November 2022 the British Business Bank, along with business support partners from across the UK, are working together to host the inaugural Business Finance Week 2022.
During five days of nationwide and regional in-person events, webinars and more, we’re helping smaller businesses learn all about the different finance options available to them to support their individual needs. Find out more on Business Finance Week 2022 | Business Wales (gov.wales).
Recovery Loans Scheme
The new iteration of the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) is designed to support access to finance for UK businesses as they look to invest and grow. Information is available on the Business Wales website.
Stay up to date with tourism industry news
Take a look at our latest Visit Wales industry newsletters and bulletins: Tourism Newsletter/Bulletin | Business Wales (gov.wales).
These include the latest tourism industry news from Wales and information for the industry on Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Useful Links
For specific 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 to visit the Business Wales website or call Business Wales helpline on 03000 6 03000. You should 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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