Tourism Industry Update
National Events Strategy for Wales; Reminder: “We’re Good to Go” Scheme has expired; Consultation: Changes to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005; Tourism Market Demand Reports (January 2023); Business Wales – We’re in your corner; Plan to equip today’s children and workers with the skills needed to work in the ‘net zero’ jobs of tomorrow; Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme; Digital Marketing for Tourism & Hospitality webinars; Keep Wales Tidy: Wales Coast Awards – Help for Businesses / Spring Clean Cymru 2023; Global Recycling Day 2023; Guide to building business resilience; Register your interest in Visit Britain 2023-2024 events.
National Events Strategy for Wales
Building upon the launch of the National Event Strategy for Wales last year, Steve Hughson FRAgS, Chair, Event Wales Industry Advisory Group has said:
“It is exciting to be well into the start of the 2023 event season, following the launch of the new Event Strategy for Wales. Based on 3 pillars of People, Place and Planet, the National Strategy recognises how events can contribute to all the seven national well-being goals and the Event Wales Industry Advisory Group’s (EWIAG) focus is now to create a sector-led Implementation Plan that will deliver the strategy for the whole sector across all of Wales.
“Its diverse portfolio of events supports the Welsh economy, culture, language and, in bringing people together for a common purpose, greatly contributes to the wellness agenda. The Group was born out of COVID and helped businesses survive the pandemic; it will continue to provide a dynamic link between the sector and the Welsh Government, helping to ensure the sector is supported and that Welsh Government understand current issues. Building on that successful relationship the Group looks forward to delivering a vibrant, sustainable, and innovative Arts, Culture, Sporting and Business events sector for Wales.”
For queries email eventwales@gov.wales.
Forthcoming events include:
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Laugharne Festival, 24-26 March 2023: The Laugharne Weekend is an annual literary and arts festival held in the town of Laugharne in West Wales each spring, with leftfield literary and musical talent from around the world. This is a festival where visitors and townspeople can rub shoulders with the artists and performers and celebrates all things Dylan Thomas. If there’s a single person who sums up the Welsh creative spirit, it’s Dylan Thomas. If there’s a place, it's Laugharne. If there’s one event that brings all these together, it’s the Laugharne Weekend.
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Circus Festival, Singleton Park, Swansea, 13-16 April 2023: The Circus Village & Festival 2023 is not a traditional ‘circus’ rather a contemporary performance with Welsh company, No Fit State - a world leading exponent of the genre. It will bring around 200 of the leading contemporary UK circus artists together for intense peer-to-peer learning in South Wales. The Circus Village will be created in Singleton Park, Swansea for several weeks prior to a public celebration and 4-day Circus Festival where public audience and families will be welcomed on site and into the Big Tops to see new work created by participants of the Circus Village element of the event.
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Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival, Aberystwyth 21-23 April 2023: Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival is Wales' only international crime fiction festival, profiling Welsh crime writers. The event will take place in Aberystwyth Museum & Library.
Reminder: “We’re Good to Go” Scheme has expired
“We’re Good to Go”, the industry standard that supported businesses throughout the pandemic closed on 31 March 2022. Therefore, the “We’re Good to Go” logo and references are no longer applicable and should not have been used beyond September 2022. Regrettably, it has come to our attention that there are a large number of businesses still using and displaying the logo. If you are using the logo on your website, premises, or other marketing materials, you need to remove the logos immediately.
You can find more details on the Visit Britain website.
Consultation: Changes to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Commencement of section 156 of the UK Building Safety Act 2022 in Wales.
This consultation is about changes to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
In response to the Grenfell Tower fire our Safer buildings in Wales White Paper set out proposals for a comprehensive reform of legislation to improve the safety in all multi-occupied residential buildings in Wales (those containing 2 or more sets of domestic dwellings), from design and construction, through to occupation and how they are maintained.
The Welsh Government is consulting on timings for commencing section 156 of the UK Building Safety Act 2022, in Wales and is seeking your views.
The changes will affect all premises to which the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 applies and will impose additional duties on those responsible for fire safety in these buildings.
The consultation is now open and will close on 19 May 2023.
Tourism Market Demand Reports (January 2023)
The Tourism Market Demand Reports for January 2023 have now been published. The reports cover the UK and Ireland and are based on fieldwork conducted during the period 3 - 17 January 2023.
The reports show ‘Great value for money’ is the number one influence in choosing a destination for a holiday or short break in the UK, for both the UK domestic holiday market and the Irish holiday market. Among those who are planning to take a trip to Wales in 2023, the majority indicated that they would take some action to manage the costs of their trip. The reports also contain findings on intentions to visit Wales in 2023 and the impact of marketing and the World Cup upon awareness and perceptions of Wales.
Business Wales – We’re in your corner
Specific recruitment and financial support is being offered by the Welsh Government to help employers create new opportunities for young people to join their team through work experience, work placements or employment, including the Young Person’s Guarantee, Jobs Growth Wales+ and React+. Further details are available on Business Wales.
Plan to equip today’s children and workers with the skills needed to work in the ‘net zero’ jobs of tomorrow
The Welsh Government has set out how it will ensure today’s children, young people and workers have the skills they need to work in the new jobs of tomorrow in the green “Net Zero” industries that do not yet exist.
- New net zero skills plan sets out vision of the role skills will play in moving Wales away from the fossil-fuelled economy of the past to a new low carbon future, as part of a just transition.
- Net zero jobs will become the cornerstone of the new industries of the future, that very likely don’t yet exist.
- Economy Minister launched new plan to ensure today’s children and workers will have the skills required to work in the new jobs of tomorrow’s net zero economy.
More information: Stronger, Fairer, Greener Wales: Net Zero Skills.
Read the announcement in full on Gov.Wales.
Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme
People travelling to the UK without a visa will soon need to get an ETA.
As part of plans to strengthen the UK border through digitisation, the UK Government is launching an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme. The ETA scheme will apply to most visitors to the UK who do not need a visa for stays of less than six months, and who do not have any other immigration status prior to travelling. It provides permission to travel to the UK, and it is electronically linked to passports.
The introduction of ETAs will be a significant change for many people who can currently travel to the UK without any prior interaction with the Home Office. Rollout will be combined with a global marketing communications campaign, which is being developed to drive awareness and action.
Awareness raising events are being held providing an overview of the ETA scheme and the opportunity to ask questions:
Information and guidance about the scheme can be found on Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and a communications toolkit is available to assist with stakeholder engagement and preparing visitors.
Digital Marketing for Tourism & Hospitality webinars
Superfast Business Wales and Visit Wales have partnered to offer a FREE two-part webinar, tailored for the tourism and hospitality sector.
Learn how to make your business stand out online, engage new customers, make more of reviews, as well as use digital tools like online booking platforms to run your business successfully.
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Part 1: Digital marketing for tourism and hospitality
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Part 2: Running your tourism and hospitality business online
Find out more and register on Digital Marketing for Tourism and Hospitality.
Wales Coast Awards – Help for Businesses
The Wales Coast Awards play a vital role in protecting our precious marine environment and are recognised around the world as a symbol of quality. Keep Wales Tidy have managed the Blue Flag, Green Coast Award and Seaside Award for more than 20 years.
To attain one of these prestigious awards a beach, marina or tourism boat operator must meet and maintain the highest environmental standards and achieve tough water quality targets.
The Wales Coast Awards are a guarantee to visitors that they’ve arrived at a top destination.
For further details visit: Help for businesses - Keep Wales Tidy.
Spring Clean Cymru 2023
From 17 March to 2 April, Keep Wales Tidy are calling for help to protect the environment as even small acts on your doorstep make a big difference.
This year the message is simple: even one bag can make a difference. Join in and pledge to pick up as much litter as you can during the campaign. You might choose to pick up just one bag, or you could set yourself a goal of collecting as many as you can. #LittleHeroes.
Register a clean-up if you are an individual or part of a group.
For further information visit Spring Clean Cymru 2023 - Keep Wales Tidy - Caru Cymru
Setting up a workplace recycling scheme
Introducing a recycling scheme in your workplace is easier than you think! Find out more on Setting up a workplace recycling scheme | Business Wales (gov.wales)
Global Recycling Day 2023
Global Recycling Day will take place on 18 March 2023.
It recognises the people, places and activities that showcase how the Seventh Resource and recycling contribute to an environmentally stable planet and a greener future for all.
There are plenty of ways to get involved in Global Recycling Day by organising your own events, helping to promote Global Recycling Day by sharing activities on social media.
For further information visit: About - Global Recycling Day
You can find more details on the Business Wales website.
Guide to building business resilience
If you're a small business owner, you know that rising costs can be a real challenge. It's easy to get overwhelmed trying to keep your business afloat in an uncertain economy of high inflation and potential recession.
The British Business Bank’s Guide to building business resilience contains impartial, practical, and actionable information and support to help smaller businesses manage their costs, boost their long-term profitability, and increase their resilience.
For further information and to download the guide please visit: Guide to building business resilience - British Business Bank (british-business-bank.co.uk)
Register your interest in Visit Britain 2023-2024 events
Visit Britain are now inviting expressions of interest for their proposed 2023-2024 events programme. Further information, and a link to register your interest in multiple events, can be found at Proposed Events Programme 2023-2024 | VisitBritain. Deadline to register your interest is 31 March 2023.
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).
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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