May 17, 2023 - 1460 views
Aberconwy MS Janet Finch-Saunders has delivered a speech in the Welsh Parliament slamming the much debated Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru tourism tax.
Mrs Finch-Saunders, who represents the constituency known as being at the heart of the hospitality sector, with leading destinations such as Llandudno, Conwy, and Betws y Coed, was speaking ahead of Wales Tourism Week 2023.
Speaking in the Welsh Parliament, she said: “In co-operation with North Wales Tourism I undertook a review of the potential impact of a tourism tax on the hospitality and tourism industries of Aberconwy.
“The outcomes are clear. Levying additional tax on a Welsh Government priority sector would be counter to policy in most other European countries. They have actively sought to cut tourism tax to stimulate tourism growth, tax revenue, GDP, and employment.
“Across Europe, of course, VAT is levied around 5 to 7 per cent on tourism, as opposed to 20 per cent in Wales.
“Spain and France have four seasons of tourism; Wales has 1.5 seasons.
“Spain has 300 days of sunshine a year; Wales has an average of 60 days.
“Wales has around 34 million total overnight stays; France and Spain have 433 million and 471 million.
“It costs more to get a train from London to north Wales than to fly to Spain.
“The sector is clear that domestic visitors are more likely to choose Spain or France if a tax is introduced in Wales.
“Now that we are celebrating the tourism sector in Wales, the Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru co-operation should reward the sector by scrapping the tax.”
