Following an emergency meeting The Welsh Association of Visitor Attractions (WAVA) which represents over 100 of the leading visitor attractions in Wales passed a resolution recommending that members close down their attraction for one day on Tuesday 10th December.
The reason for the above action is in response to the Welsh Governments (W.G) proposed tourism tax where their own government reports indicated such a tax would damage the Welsh tourism industry.
In the latest W.G. government report,** it was stated that in the worst scenario over 700 tourism jobs could be lost by this tax, with a revenue loss of £40 + million. W.G. figures were based only on a 1.6% drop in visitor numbers. Many in tourism expect the drop to be more.
Comments from members at the EGM :-
Comment. “Few people in Wales realise that this tax will also apply to them. Hence, if Welsh people take their holiday in Wales they are taxed, but if they go to England for their holiday they won’t be taxed. Only one thing is certain about this proposed tax and that is like all taxes they go up.”
Comment. “I just don’t know where I am going to find £25,000 to cover the increase in my wages bill and N.I increases”.
Comment.”I did not realise that we were going to have to add VAT on top of the £1.25 tourism tax, and that children would be charged the same as an adult.”
Comment.”700 private tourism jobs could go, but there will be an increase in public sector jobs as a result of this tax. Wales already has the highest number of civil servants compared to the rest of G.B. Wales. Thirty-one percent in Wales and twenty four percent in G.B.”
Comment. “The W.G does not listen to us despite going to meeting after meeting and writing dozens of letters. They know it all, but the declining visitor numbers say differently.”
Comment. “I am suffering from mental stress owing to the W.G. continuously putting hurdles in the path of my business. I feel like retiring and giving up the fight.”
Comment.” “What sane government, apart from those in communist regimes, would knowingly risk putting 700 of their own people out of work in order to collect more tax from businesses that are contracting and need help? We should be encouraging visitors to come to Wales and not taxing them for coming. What the W.G. is proposing is complete economic madness.”
Comment. “WAVA should get a legal opinion from a Competition Law and Human Rights lawyer on whether the proposed visitor levy can be challenged on the grounds that it is making our industry uncompetitive and business owners human rights are being impacted by the combination of recent WG policies.”
Many members also commented that last year there was a 23% drop in the number of visitors staying overnight in Wales*, and 60% of Welsh attractions saw less visitors than in 2023. Also, no WAVA attraction is achieving the visitor numbers they once had pre-Covid. Welsh tourism is the slowest to recover from Covid compared to other UK tourism regions. (All leading experts in Welsh tourism had advised the W.G. not to go ahead with a tourism tax.)
WAVA members also wished to show solidarity and support for the Welsh self-catering sector by this strike action. Self-catering operators in Wales are being ravaged by the W.G.182-day rule resulting in many closures, job losses and reported high stress levels from owners.***
Tourism is Wales second largest industry, but members felt the future looked increasingly grim owing to the W.G. negative attitude towards tourism, and subliminal anti-English rhetoric.
Members felt they had to take the strongest possible action to show their anger with the Welsh Government, hence their call for strike action. Members voted for more direct action to follow.
WAVA Press Officer – Ashford, Dan Yr Ogof Showcaves. Contact. 07989 855 313.
Further contacts :-
Jim. Go North Wales. 07525 934742.
Simon. Silver Mountain Experience.07990573972.
Colin. Cantref Adventure Park. 07977120533.
Roy. Gower Heritage. 07974243748.
Frankie. Anglesey Sea Aquarium. 07904120980.
Jules. Manorafon Farm Park. 01745833237.
*(Domestic GB tourism stats (overnight trips 2022/23.)
**Report produced by Calvin Jones of Cardiff Business School and Welsh Government.
***Professional Association of Self-catering surveys.
