Select committee: Welsh Affairs Committee
Recommendation 18
Fourth Report - Wales as a global tourist destination
Published 12 Jul 2023
Paragraph 115
Addressed to Wales Office
Welsh Affairs Committee Wales as a global tourist destination All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
We are concerned that the proposed visitor levy may have a negative impact on the number of international tourists coming to Wales. While we see some benefits that might accrue from the proposal, there are other ways in which these might be achieved. We feel that the proposal, as it stands, may have a negative impact on the attractiveness of Wales to international tourists, and on the viability of affected businesses in the tourism sector. However, we note that decisions will be taken locally, with those on the ground able to best assess whether the levy would be appropriate in their localities. We ask the Welsh Government to re-examine this issue, and if they are still intent on implementing the levy, to consider ways of mitigating its potentially negative impact on the tourism sector.
From: Welsh Affairs Committee, Fourth Report - Wales as a global tourist destination (HC 220), paragraph 115, 12 July 2023
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 2 November 2023 (deadline 12 September 2023).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government sets out existing VisitBritain and Visit Wales activity in response to the Committee's recommendations on promoting Wales, and on transport states its support for a western rail link to Heathrow is conditional.
- On a Wales brand and strategy, the government says Visit Wales "leads on the development of a tourism brand specifically for Wales", with VisitBritain working with it so these brand values are reflected in the GREAT Campaign.
- On tour operators, it says "uptake by Welsh organisations could be improved" and that VisitBritain "will continue to liaise with Visit Wales" so tourism benefits are spread across all Home Nations.
- On the Heathrow rail link, support is "predicated on" a satisfactory business case and agreement of an acceptable financial contribution from Heathrow Airport Limited, and assumptions need to be "reconsidered" after the pandemic.
- On transport funding, it cites £2.7 million announced on 2 February 2023 for options on the South Wales Main Line and additional stations, with decisions on further Welsh study proposals to be announced "in due course".