North Wales Senedd Member Mark Isherwood has called for Welsh Government support for tourism businesses to prevent them from going under because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mr Isherwood raised the matter during yesterday’s Virtual Plenary Meeting with the Minister for International Relations and Welsh Language, who is responsible for ‘Tourism in and to Wales’.
Speaking via ‘Zoom’ from his home in North Wales, he said:
“Holiday parks and many other tourism businesses receive most of their annual income between Easter, which they've already lost, and the October half term. Even if they manage to stay afloat this autumn, they fear they will go under over the winter, impacting on the jobs they provide and all the businesses in their communities they and their customers sustain.
“What plans, therefore, does the Welsh Government have to support Welsh tourism businesses, taking account of their seasonal nature and, thereby, to protect our coastal and rural communities?”
The Minister replied:
“It is a real concern, in terms of the tourism sector, that we are talking about this three-winter prospect that they are confronting.
“ I think there's so much we can do as a Welsh Government, but this is a matter that the UK Government also understands, and so, we will be making sure that, as far as possible, we are asking them to help us out in this very specific sector that is really perhaps more exposed than many other sectors because of the seasonal nature that you emphasised. Furlough is great while it lasts. But, as you mentioned, there are also lots of people who perhaps are employed on a seasonal basis that may be not eligible to apply for furlough because that season hadn't quite started.”
Commenting afterwards, Mr. Isherwood said “Many caravan and lodge holiday park businesses in North Wales have contacted me asking for help and we will continue to challenge the Welsh Government over this”.