Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford is BANNED from one of Wales’ best-known attractions because of his ‘anti-tourism, anti-English policies’
- Mark Drakeford has been banned from the National Showcaves Centre
- Chairman Ashford Price said he was taking a stand against the Government
- Research found that overnight visitors spent more than £2billion in 2018
First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford has been banned from one of the nation’s best-known attractions because of their ‘anti-tourism, anti-English’ policies.
The Labour Party leader in Wales, along with his Government ministers, have been barred from the National Showcaves Centre for Wales.
Chairman Ashford Price said he was taking a stand against leaders in Cardiff Bay and in solidarity with businesses in the tourism industry.
Mr Drakeford’s crackdown on second home ownership, which will come into force in April 2023, sparked a row between senior political figures and business leaders.
Holiday home owners are exempt from council tax and liable for business rates if they rent out their additional properties for 70 days per year.
New legislation means landlords could be smacked with council tax premiums of up to 300% if they do not let their extra apartments for more than 182 days a year.
A tourism tax has also been proposed.
First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford (picture above) was banned from one of the nation’s best-known attractions because of his ‘anti-tourism, anti-English’ policies
Ashford Price, chairman of the National Showcaves Centre for Wales at Dan Yr Ogof (pictured above) said the Government’s second home policy could cause businesses to close
More than £2billion was spent by visitors staying the night in Wales in 2018, according to official documents.
Almost one in ten people are are directly employed by the visitor economy.
According to Wales Online, a sign now being displayed in the Dan Yr Ogof ticket office reads: ‘Owing to the Welsh Government’s anti-tourism, and anti-English policies being imposed on the Welsh tourism industry, members of the Welsh Government are no longer welcome at this attraction..
Mr Price said: ‘Their policies will lead to tourism businesses being forced to close and thousands of tourism jobs lost.
‘The attraction believes that demanding businesses let their properties out for 182 days a year is akin to a ‘Soviet-type purge being imposed by the Welsh Government’, which also comes in for criticism over some of the other policies it is bringing in.
“I have had the pleasure of meeting two First Ministers for Wales at the caves,” said Mr Price.
‘The late Rhodri Morgan and Carwyn Jones on more than one occasion and they were always genuinely interested in tourism.
Mr Price accused the Welsh Government of ‘bully boy’ tactics and criticised their ‘Soviet-type purge’ on business
‘However, the present Welsh Government with their anti-tourism policies, namely the 182-day rule, the proposed tourism tax, and planned alterations to the main summer holidays, clearly show that they do not understand or care that their actions will decimate seasonal tourism businesses in Wales.
“Thirty per cent of self-catering businesses are forecast to close, with a resulting loss of 1,400 Welsh jobs.
‘Is it any wonder that some operators in Welsh tourism are now holding back on any future investment in Wales?
‘With the resultant job losses, soon the only growth area in Welsh tourism will be the growth in redundant tourism operators claiming ‘benefits’.
‘The Welsh Government have used ‘bully boys’ tactics to bulldoze through these new laws, ignoring tourism opposition and leading experts advising against these new proposals.
For the Welsh Government to take these actions, especially during a cost-of-living crisis, and a recession starting this autumn that according to the Bank of England will last for over a year and with inflation rising to 13% next year is complete economic madness.
‘Eighty per cent of all visitors to Wales are English and many of these new policies will be seen as anti-English by the English media.
‘Wales will pay a heavy price if our main tourism market refuses to pay the proposed tourism tax, and vote with their feet and go elsewhere.
‘In a recession, people will be looking for ‘bargain holidays’ not holiday regions where you pay a tax for visiting them.
‘Surely, with power comes responsibilities and a willingness to listen to experts as none of the ministers involved have ever run a tourism related business.
‘My parents always told me as a youngster that you must always stand up to ‘bullies’, hence this is my personal stand to ban Welsh ministers from the showcaves and show our support for the beleaguered self-catering operators in Wales.’
Finance Minister Rebecca Evans defended the policy and said: ‘Following our consultation the Welsh Government is of the view that properties let out as self-catering accommodation on an infrequent basis should be liable for council tax.
‘Increased letting criteria will ensure that self-catering properties are classed as non-domestic only if they are being used for business purposes for the majority of the year.’
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: ‘The Welsh Government is fully supportive of tourism in Wales and is working very closely with our hospitality and tourism sectors to ensure they have a successful summer season and a thriving and sustainable future.’
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