Autumn ‘critical to the future of tourism firms’
the tourism and hospitality sector.
“Missing the first few weeks of the official summer holidays due to the extended lockdown in Wales, we were always playing catch up behind our English counterparts. Once we opened, visitors did come to North Wales.
“In fact, we experienced a muchneeded surge in visitor numbers, but this exposed some of our infrastructure problems, as very few localities had plans in place to deal with such a large influx, causing a degree of intolerance and animosity towards tourism and visitors, which has been a real shame.
“The good news, however, is that those who were able to open have enjoyed a very busy remainder of the summer season.
“The next few months, September and October in particular will be a critical time for our sector, as this will determine the survival of many.
“It’s highly unlikely international visitors will return until spring 2021, so promoting staycations, short breaks and long weekends will be North Wales Tourism’s top priority for upcoming marketing campaigns.”
Ben Francis, FSB Wales policy chair, said: “With the average tourism business having lost half of its annual income, it is clear that the concerns of these seasonal businesses facing three consecutive winters is beginning to be borne out in many places.
“Welsh Government’s research also shows that two thirds of tourism businesses still have staff on furlough.
“Unless significant measures are now taken to support this industry, then it is clear that there could be difficult decisions ahead for many small firms.
“FSB Wales has already called on Welsh Government to institute a tourism hibernation scheme – a potential mix of loan and grant funding which include offering tourism firms loans at preferential rates, repayable once those firms are back in the profitable part of the 2021 season.
“Such a scheme would be aimed at supporting a tourism firm to hibernate through the winter of 2020 / 2021 before reopening next spring.
“It is clear that many firms need a lifeline to help see them through this incredibly difficult period, and if Welsh Government does not step in soon then time is going to very quickly begin to run out for Wales’ tourism firms.”