Tourism chiefs in North Wales have slammed the Welsh Government’s budget cuts

North Wales tourism bosses have reacted sharply after financial support for the industry was cut as bureaucratic costs rose.

At the annual trade forum and conference at Venue Cymru in Llandudno, members of North Wales Tourism were told that the Welsh Government had withdrawn £3.5 million from Visit Wales coffers.

Delegates heard that in 2018, the budget supporting the tourism industry was £18.5 million, with back office costs of around £5 million. serving 100 employees.

This year the budget was reduced to £15 million, but with inflation it is estimated that office costs have risen to around £7 million.

During this time, the number of overseas visitors to Wales fell by eight per cent, while Scotland saw a 15 per cent increase, with a reduced budget to £47 million dwarfing Wales’ funding.

Struggling

According to the chairman of North Wales Tourism, hotelier Glenn Evans, the steep cuts come at a time when the tourism and hospitality sector was already struggling to recover from the pandemic that has devastated the industry.

At the same time, new Welsh Government policies such as a “regressive” tourist tax and “unpopular” 20mph speed limit laws discouraged visitors from coming to the region.

He and other speakers repeatedly called for “early and meaningful engagement with policymakers” in the tourism sector, which was a major driver of North Wales’ economy.

Before the pandemic, the industry provided an annual economic boost of £3.6 billion and supported over 40,000 jobs across the region.

Annoying

Evans said: “It is galling that the costs of bureaucracy in Wales are soaring even though the main budget has been reduced so dramatically.

“We are struggling to access the Welsh Government, which has a number of flagship policies, some of which are already in place.

“These include the 182-day occupancy threshold for holiday lets, which is a challenge for many businesses, and these rates are among the highest in the UK.

“What I also find very difficult is meaningful access to the Welsh Government. One day I was in a room with the Minister for Social Partnership, Hannah Blythyn, and the next day she was gone because she had been made redundant.

“Gaining access to people in Welsh Government is a challenge, but through Tourism North Wales and British Hospitality we will continue to lobby very hard to gain access and make sure they not only listen to us, but also hear us.”

This opinion was shared by guest speaker George Reid, chairman of the South West Wales Regional Tourism Forum.

Survive

He said: “Working with Welsh Government policymakers is essential if we are to get good legislation that encourages our businesses to grow, reinvest, rehire and not just survive but thrive.

“In fact, many of the principles of this policy are supported by the sector – the problems with second homes, the uneven playing field with thousands of unregulated, uninsured and under-risked operators who have come to the market to choose from during busy periods. “

On a more optimistic note, the conference said Llandudno’s “vibrant and thriving” town center was bucking the Welsh and British trend thanks to the careful management of the Mostyn estate.

Marc Fletcher, senior surveyor at Mostyn, said: “In my role I have the opportunity to shape the place I call home and that gives me particular satisfaction.

“Mostyn Estate is a private company that manages the interests of the Mostyn family across North Wales, but the majority of this activity takes place in Llandudno, where the family owns around 90 per cent of the town.

“Llandudno is the premier retail destination in Mid and North Wales. I think a large part of the reason people visit Llandudno is the look and feel of the town. It’s a Victorian character, Orme as a bookend and a great prom.

“It all adds to the visual aesthetic. Taking Prom as an example, it is unique in the sense that we do not allow commerce in any part of it, unlike other seaside towns. Perhaps some may think this is an outdated way of delivering things, but we believe that prom is a better place for it.

Correct mixture

He added that daytime and evening attractions are absolutely essential for visitors to the city and the High Street plays a big part in this.

“It is crucial that we have the right mix of independent stores, national retailers, restaurants, cafes and bars to promote time in store and encourage spending.

“The city’s ownership structure allows us to assess what is best for it. It allows us to have a clear vision. Our goal is to select the right tenants in the right places. It’s not just about achieving the highest rent, but about the long term.

“High Street can’t compete with Amazon on price and reach, and I don’t think it should try. It should be a place where people go for excitement. We believe our approach works. Llandudno boasts an exceptionally low retail vacancy rate of 6% compared to 17% in Wales and 14% across the UK.

Fletcher felt that the city’s weakness was the variety of things to do in wet weather and in the evening.

“M&S moved from the city center to Parc Llandudno a few years ago. Mostyn Estate has acquired an old building and intends to turn it into a leisure center in the heart of the city. Our desire is to fill a long-standing gap in destination offerings and a much-needed attraction during rainy weather and evenings.

“We have a fantastic prom and a fantastic area nearby for outdoor activities and Llandudno can be a hub for people to stay, go to restaurants and spend money, which ultimately makes it a vibrant place to visit and live ” – he said.