Welsh Conservatives have urged Labour to reconsider what have been labelled ‘anti-tourist policies’ after Ministers were banned from one of the country’s attractions, with the operator stating that they were no longer welcome.
Commenting on the news that Labour leader in Wales, Mark Drakeford, along with his ministers, have been banned from visiting the National Showcaves Centre for Wales by chairman Ashford Price, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Tourism, Tom Giffard MS said: “People are absolutely right to highlight that thousands of jobs are at risk from Labour’s attack on the tourist industry here in Wales.
“Whether that be the tourism tax, second home crackdown, or possible changes to summer holidays, Labour clearly do not understand Welsh tourism.
“This ban has come from a spectacular Welsh tourist attraction that brings in £2 billion into the Welsh economy. Labour need to reconsider their anti-tourist policies and put the Welsh economy above their nationalist agenda.”
One of Wales oldest family attractions is making a stance in solidarity with self-caterers in Wales by stating that Ministers of the present Welsh Government are not welcome.
‘Dan Yr Ogof’ - The National Showcaves Centre for Wales has a sign being displayed in the ticket office window giving the reasons for this decision stating ‘Owing to the Welsh Government’s anti-tourism, and anti-English policies being imposed on the Welsh Tourism industry, members of the Welsh Government are no longer welcome at this attraction’.
‘Their policies will lead to tourism businesses being forced to close and thousands of tourism jobs lost’
The action is related to what the owners of Dan Yr Ogof have described as a ‘Soviet type purge’ being imposed by the Welsh Government demanding that all self-catering businesses must let their properties for 182 days a year or face severe business rating penalties.
Ashford Price, Chairman of Dan Yr Ogof said: “I have had the pleasure of meeting two First Ministers for Wales at the Caves. The late Rhodri Morgan and Carwyn Jones on more than one occasion and they were always genuinely interested in tourism.
“However, the present Welsh Government with their anti-tourism policies namely the 182-day rule, the proposed tourism tax, and planned alterations to the main summer holidays clearly show that they do not understand or care that their actions will decimate seasonal tourism businesses in Wales.
“Thirty per cent of self-catering businesses are forecast to close, with a resulting loss of 1400 Welsh jobs. Is it any wonder that some operators in Welsh tourism are now holding back on any future investment in Wales?
“With the resultant job losses, soon the only growth area in Welsh tourism will be the growth in redundant tourism operators claiming ‘benefits’.
“The Welsh Government have used ‘bully boys’ tactics to bulldoze through these new laws, ignoring tourism opposition and leading experts advising against these new proposals,” he continued.
“For the Welsh Government to take these actions, especially during a cost-of-living crisis, and a recession starting this Autumn that according to the Bank of England will last for over a year and with inflation rising to 13% next year is complete economic madness!
“80% of all visitors to Wales are English and many of these new policies will be seen as anti-English by the English media. Wales will pay a heavy price if our main tourism market refuses to pay the proposed tourism tax, and vote with their feet and go elsewhere.
“In a recession people will be looking for ‘bargain holidays’ not holiday regions where you pay a tax for visiting them.”
Mr Price has also questioned the Welsh Government’s policy to introduce a 20-mph speed limit on residential roads and busy pedestrian streets across Wales.
“The English and Scottish Tourist Boards must be looking on with glee and puzzlement at these self-inflected wounds on Wales, especially the new law stating that all residential areas in Wales that will soon be subject to a 20-mph speed limit,” continued Mr Price.
“Has any thought been given to the increased pollution as tourist vehicles crawl through Welsh towns and villages at 20 mph in second gear?
“However, maybe tourists will find it a novelty at being overtaken by bikes, skate boarders and the occasional gymkhana pony as they crawl along? Equally imagine their amazement when they learn that it has cost £30 million to make these changes!
“Surely with power comes responsibilities and a willingness to listen to experts as none of the Ministers involved have ever run a tourism related business.
“My parents always told me as a youngster that you must always stand up to ‘bullies’ hence this is my personal stand to ban Welsh Ministers from the showcaves and show our support for the beleaguered self-catering operators in Wales,” he added.