Part of 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Cabinet Office – in the Senedd at 1:56 pm on 19 June 2024.
Janet Finch-Saunders
Conservative
1:56,
19 June 2024
I think if you were to be absolutely honest with us here today, it is fair to say that those organisations are not actually just taking it as read that this is going to come through and that they're happy with it. Indeed, your own tourism survey response on bringing forward this initiative, we know, was widely criticised, and the figures actually said, 'No, we don't want the tourism tax', but you press ahead.
Now, the WTA chairman has said:
'Not only will it make the industry less competitive, sending out a perception that Wales will be a more expensive destination to visit, but businesses are already struggling to bounce back...from the pandemic.'
Wales is still down 13 per cent on 2019 when it comes to visitor numbers, and now 70 per cent of visitors say they will consider going elsewhere if there is to be a tax. Is this tax really going to help Wales's economic value recover?
All along you've mentioned your consultation, but as the WTA has said:
'Rather than proposing a new tax', we as well as those organisations are saying,
'the Welsh Government should be focusing on financial support to help the sector.'
Plaid Cymru and Welsh Labour—
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