Following Spokesperson’s Questions to Labour Cabinet Secretary for North Wales. Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for North Wales, Culture, Tourism and Sport, Gareth Davies MS, has expressed concern over Labour’s Tourism Tax and the impact it will have on the tourism industry in North Wales, with the Welsh Government's own estimates projecting up to £576 million in economic damage.
Mr. Davies also highlighted that, overnight stays in Wales are down 29% on 2022 and the latest world Economic Forum Travel and Tourism Index ranks Britain 113th out of 119 countries for price competitiveness and argued that making it even more expensive to visit North Wales will deter visitors and thus revenue for the region.
Commenting following his Spokesperson’s Questions, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for North Wales, Culture, Tourism and Sport, Gareth Davies MS, said:
“Tourism is at the heart of our national economy and in North Wales we welcome millions of visitors each year, who contribute £1.8 billion pounds to the economy each year and Labour and Plaid’s Toxic Tourism Tax risks undermining one of our most successful industries.
“At a time when the sector is already facing significant challenges, the last thing we need is a policy that makes it more expensive to visit, making North Wales less affordable will only deter tourists and reduce revenue for our local businesses.
“Labour and Plaid’s Tourism Tax will do real damage to the tourism industry in North Wales. The Welsh Conservatives will stand up for our visitor economy and scrap this harmful tax.”
