Clwyd West MS Darren Millar is calling on the Labour Welsh Government to scrap its plans for a tourism tax, when so many businesses in North Wales are on their knees due to the pandemic.  

Darren fears that introducing a tourism tax will have a devastating impact on businesses throughout North Wales and said that instead of introducing measures that will drive tourists away, the Welsh Government should be doing everything it can help businesses recover.   

He said:

“Lockdowns in the last year have been incredibly tough for businesses and jobs here in North Wales. Now Welsh Labour intend to keep the misery coming as they consider new taxes on tourists.

“Before the pandemic, 42,000 jobs across North Wales were reliant on the tourism industry – which adds up to one in every seven jobs in the area

“Right now, we just can’t afford to drive away tourists. Too many local jobs depend on it. Too many businesses need to get back on their feet first.

“The Welsh Labour Government should be looking at ways of supporting our area to recover – not piling more problems on our local businesses.”

He added:

“So much hard work has gone into trying to regenerate our towns along the North Wales coast and this tax on tourists could put all that in jeopardy.

“It could devastate communities and make regeneration efforts in Colwyn Bay, Rhyl and Llandudno even more difficult and have a crippling effect on caravan parks, hotels and other businesses which rely on visitors to make ends meet.

“The Welsh Government needs to go back to the drawing board and come up with a less destructive way of raising money.”

Welsh Conservatives are petitioning to scrap the plans for a Tourism Tax, to sign the petition please click on the following link: https://action.conservatives.wales/scrap-the-tourism-tax/