What support is the Welsh Government providing tourism and hospitality businesses with the increases in the cost of a) energy, b) staffing and c) food and drink?
The Welsh Government has implemented several measures to support tourism and hospitality businesses, recognising the range of economic challenges they have faced in recent years. More than £1 billion of support has been allocated through our Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Rates Relief since 2020-21. This is in addition to our fully funded permanent reliefs which are currently worth £250m to businesses and other ratepayers every year.
Other support includes promoting careers in the sector, supporting skills development, and working with partners to improve job quality and retention. Since 2021, Visit Wales has worked with Careers Wales and the sector to promote career opportunities via the Experience Makers campaign. This tackles negative perceptions around working in tourism and hospitality, and encourages people to take up a career in the sector.
Tourism businesses can apply to the £50 million Wales Tourism Investment Fund. So far, the sector has been boosted by £28 million investment in the form of loans and grants from this Fund. In addition, the Year of Croeso Weatherproofing Fund has awarded nearly £5 million to tourism and hospitality businesses in the last year, to implement weatherproofing measures to mitigate the impact of poor weather on business performance and on the visitor experience. Businesses in the sector also have access to all the Business Wales support that we offer to growing companies.