Higher costs - with some businesses struggling with huge rate increases of almost 90 per cent this year - will be highlighted by a leading Tenby hotelier at the fourth Wales tourism industry conference at the weekend. Mr. Chris Osborne, of the Fourcroft Hotel, Tenby, will lead the debate on business rates and rising costs at the Wales Tourism Alliance Conference 2005, at the Hotel Metropole, Llandrindod Wells, on Sunday, November 6 and Monday, November 7. The Alliance represents 20 member organisations and more than 7,000 tourism businesses across the whole of Wales. Skill shortages, business rates, 'star' grading of properties, no-smoking policy, a new promotional campaign to improve public facilities, business grants and the marketing of Wales will feature during the two-day event. But it is the business costs rises that have concerned the industry throughout 2005. "We have received complaints from right across our Welsh membership of extortionate increases in business rates," said Wales Tourism Alliance chairman, Julian Burrell. "These rises have been imposed without consultation or prior notice and it has left our members seething - as well as significantly out of pocket," he said. "It is a side door tax on success. The new rateable values take into account gross turnover, so the more successful operators are penalised," said Mr. Burrell. At WTA's fourth annual conference, the trade will discuss this and other vital issues and help form a raft of practical policies for WTA to present to Government. From next April, when WTB merges with the National Assembly for Wales, WTA will seek a new, direct relationship with the Welsh Assembly Government. "Next April, when the Wales Tourist Board has formally merged with the Assembly, we are aware that WTA must further develop to represent the industry's needs and wishes and to guide the political process towards effective implementation whenever possible," said WTA chairman, Mr. Julian Burrell. "We all have to raise standards, improve quality, to grow and to positively develop - and in 2006 that applies not only to the tourism industry in Wales, but also to the WTA and the Welsh Assembly Government. "Today WTA stands as the 'Voice of the Industry' in Wales, working in partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government's Economic Development and Transport Minister Andrew Davies and his department. I am delighted that he will be with us to deliver the keynote speech to delegates at our fourth industry dinner on Sunday," said Mr. Burrell.
