‘Tax tourists to keep Welsh speakers here’
ATAX on tourists, new local banks and the relocation of public sector jobs are among 12 economic policies being proposed to keep Welsh speakers in Wales.
Language group Cymdeithas yr Iaith has published its recommendations to strengthen the economy in an effort to reduce out-migration from Wales.
They say it comes as a time of “crisis for the language” and launched the policies in Blaenau Ffestiniog on Monday.
The ideas include handing councils the powers to impose a tourism tax on overnight visitors with a suggested £1 per person, per night charge.
They said the money can be used to support local projects and infrastructure, like improving broadband services.
The group said that tourism taxes are now in place in countries across Europe and councils could be given the final say on whether to impose a tax, and decide the charge.
Earlier this year the Welsh Government chose not to implement a tourism tax after a consultation into four proposed new taxes – but they have not ditched the idea completely.
The idea of a tourism tax was fiercely opposed by tourism operators and tourist groups who said it would damage the economy of Wales.
Andy Ainscough, managing director of Surf Snowdonia, has previously described the idea as a “gift” to rival destinations in the UK.
Other proposals put forward by Cymdeithas include new local banks established with the support of councils’ pension assets, abolishing tuition fees for students who stay to study in Wales and moving hundreds of public sector jobs out of Cardiff into North and Mid Wales.
Jeff Smith from Cymdeithas yr Iaith said: “The level of out-migration from Wales is a crisis for the language and the economy.
“It’s one of the main challenges for Welsh in terms of numbers of speakers.
“It will be very difficult for the Government to meet its target of reaching a million speakers if it’s not tackled.
“We’ve heard lots of warm words from the Welsh Government, but almost no action.
“Communities where Welsh is the main means of communication act are vital. They’re like a lung which supports the language across the whole country.
“We must protect the communities we have as well as creating more.
“That’s why we are publishing these new policies.”