‘We’ll still be here when all this is over’, would-be visitors are told

THE leaders of north Wales’ six local authorities have come together to urge tourists to stay away from the region over the Easter holidays.

On what would have been the start of the two-week school holiday, visitors would have been expected to flock to the usual hotspots ahead of next week’s bank holiday weekend.

But, hoping to avoid a repeat of much-maligned scenes as cars streamed into Snowdonia just a day after the Prime Minister announced a partial shutdown, the leaders of north Wales’ six councils have sent out a public decree urging visitors to stay away until the threat of Covid-19 is deemed to have reduced.

Describing coronavirus as presenting “unprecedented challenges” for the health board, social services, councils, emergency services and

“every level of society”, the joint statement was clear in its message, which was also endorsed by the Snowdonia National Park.

“Our attractions are closed and residents are doing an excellent job in observing the social distancing and stay at home messages and we encourage potential visitors to follow this advice too,” it read, noting that all six councils backed the call to only make essential journeys.

“We’ll still be here when all this is over and our tourist and cultural sites and national park will be more than happy to give you all a fantastic Welsh welcome when everything returns to normal.”

Cllr Dyfrig Siencyn, the leader of Gwynedd Council and chair of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board, added: “Our advice to anyone who is even considering visiting north Wales over Easter is not to do so.

“The regulations from our Governments are clear that we should only leave home for essential shopping, medical needs and exercise and that only essential travel should be undertaken.

“Visiting a second home is not essential travel.”