Pembrokeshire Tourism and colleagues from Tourism Associations throughout Wales have reacted to what they have stated as an ongoing ‘lack of direction’ for the industry from the Welsh Government on plans to re-open tourism sectors as lockdown eases.
The organisation has once again called on the Welsh Government to provide a clear plan for the reopening of tourism sectors in Pembrokeshire and across Wales, and to finally publish guidance on new working practices designed to keep visitors and staff safe.
“As tourism operators, we understand and support the need for caution from a public health point of view - it is vital that our communities and health services are protected but what is the point of feeding in the lockdown concerns of tourism industry providers and members of the public if no action is taken to move things forward?” stated a spokesperson for the Pembrokeshire Tourism Association.
“This is not a case of so-called ‘wealth over health’ - economically, the Covid-19 crisis is a disaster for everyone. The irrecoverable loss of millions from the local economy that tourism brings in will affect every community throughout Pembrokeshire and impact on everyone whether they are employed in tourism or not.
“Under these circumstances, it is our role to represent not only our members but also the wider industry. A resumption of trade for tourism sectors can help to minimise the economic impact that will be felt by communities across the county.”
In correspondence to the Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford, Pembrokeshire Tourism chair Jane Rees-Baynes said that ‘absolutely nothing’ could have prepared everyone for what Covid-19 has done on a global scale, but that it was closer to home where major concerns now lie - with the livelihoods of every single tourism economy business in Pembrokeshire at stake.
“Essentially it is quite clear that we are increasingly anxious about the lack of clarity on opening dates given the level of damage being caused to our sector by a delay in providing clear guidance,” she stated.
“Without exception, businesses are completely aligned with the need to prioritise public health and work with our communities – it is these same businesses that help support the financial and economic health of the communities around them.
“However, right now the lack of clarity on reopening strategy and dates is putting our businesses at much greater risk than we ever expected when we embarked on this lockdown in March.
“Having ‘Wales closed for the summer’ in the headlines across national press this week has made a bad situation worse – with a marked jump in bookings and business order cancellations noted across the board.
“It is not surprising that ever-increasing numbers of business leaders are now looking at the prospect of redundancies and closure – potentially leaving a huge hole in their communities.
“I don’t think I can express clearly enough the worry and frustration sweeping the sector when this could have potentially been avoided if there was clarity on a date.
“Adding to the frustration is the fact that our neighbours England and Ireland, as well as the rest of Europe, are able to offer their tourism sectors more certainty.
“Here businesses can market their reopening in good time to capture a sensible base level of bookings from this historic low.
“I will take this opportunity to add our voice to the increasing chorus of businesses, large and small, looking for a light at the end of this long tunnel.
“For the sake of our livelihoods – please give us back some hope, the alternative is unthinkable,” added Mrs. Rees-Baynes.
Welsh secretary of state, and MP for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, Simon Hart has also written to the First Minister to express his concern once again at what businesses are describing as thousands of Welsh jobs being put at risk, stating that he was surprised to read Mr. Drakeford’s comments in the media over the weekend about the outlook for hospitality and leisure in Wales.
“UK internal tourism will be fundamental to the sustainability of local economies like ours in the months ahead, in what has already been a catastrophic year so far,” said Mr. Hart.
“Subject to the scientific evidence, next month will see the partial reopening of hotels, guest houses and campsites across the rest of the UK. If there is a justification for diverging rules in Wales, we need to explain this to our residents and businesses.
“If Welsh hospitality businesses - the backbone of our local economy - are to have any hope of salvaging what is left of the summer season, it is both justified and necessary to start talking about their reopening,” he continued.
Neil Hamilton, MS for Mid and West Wales, and Leader of UKIP Wales has further demanded the Welsh Government scrap the five mile rule.
Mr. Hamilton, a member of the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs committee, is urging the First Minister to lift the restriction to allow the economy to begin to recover and hundreds of people in rural Wales to meet up with their loved ones.
He said: “Last week the First Minister announced people could meet from two households provided they were outside and did not travel more than five miles. This is a complete nonsense in rural Wales. The First Minister and the Health Minister both represent urban Cardiff where a five mile radius will take you anywhere, but almost nowhere in Mid & West Wales.
“This Cardiff Bay Bubble mentality reveals a complete unawareness of the realities of rural life where many people have to travel more than five miles to a doctor, a chemist, and a food shop.
“My constituents, many of whom are prevented from visiting family and friends because they live too far away, are rightly furious at this ridiculous rule but the First Minister refuses to listen.
“Of course the vulnerable need to be shielded but let people make their own decisions about what is right for them. No-one wants to get this virus, let alone pass it on to a vulnerable friend or family, but we should be allowed to decide our own level of risk. The peak of the virus was two months ago. We are not children and this is not a dictatorship. The First Minister must relax this restriction at review on June 18.
“As a lifelong libertarian, I am very concerned at the grave erosion of civil liberties which is taking place, which is unprecedented in peacetime. I despair at the constant nanny-state attitude which pervades everything Welsh Government does. This Covid-19 situation is giving them carte blanche further to weaken the Welsh economy and push people further into poverty and ever more dependent on the state - the average income in Wales was already 75 per cent of the UK average and this gets worse with every day that lockdown continues.
“Wales is haemorrhaging badly but the First Minister just fiddles while Rome, in the shape of the rural Welsh economy, burns,” added Mr. Hamilton.
Speaking at the Welsh Government’s daily coronavirus news conference this week, Ken Skates the economy minister for Wales said that he hoped to be able to say something ‘positive’ for the tourism industry by July, with the next lockdown restriction review in Wales taking place on Thursday, June 18.
“At the last review point, the First Minister, stated that the next three weeks would offer us an opportunity to look at how non-essential retail would be able to operate,” remarked Mr. Skates.
“The next review point is on June the 18th, when the first minister will be saying something about other areas of the economy. And then, of course, the date after that is July the 9th.”
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