Urgent appeal to tourism businesses
The Welsh Government has made an urgent appeal for help from the stricken tourism business in providing accommodation for the vulnerable as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.
Yr Arglwydd Elis-Thomas, the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, has written to all accommodation owners:
“I very much appreciate the impact the current unprecedented emergency has had on the tourism sector and hopefully you are aware of the support packages that are available to the sector on the Business Wales website.
“I am also aware, through my regular contact with industry representatives and individual businesses, of not only the concerns the sector has but also of the efforts that businesses across Wales have made to assist the country in fighting Covid-19. This support has been seen at a national, regional and community level and I am writing now to give all businesses the opportunity to further contribute to this effort, and to demonstrate the sector’s importance and commitment to their local communities.
“Some businesses are already providing accommodation for key workers, which is hugely appreciated. However, the current challenge is to secure sufficient accommodation for vulnerable groups, many of whom will have been displaced as a result of this emergency. I am sure you will recognise the imperative of ensuring everyone, particularly the most vulnerable in society, are suitably housed, so that they can adhere to Public Health Wales (PHW) guidelines and be kept safe.
“The regulations that we have had to bring in to close businesses means that there is empty visitor accommodation of all types across Wales. Those same regulations enable local authorities or Welsh ministers to request businesses reopen in order to provide safe accommodation for vulnerable people.
“Therefore, and in that context I have two important requests, which require an urgent response:
- Please provide details of the accommodation which you could offer to house vulnerable people. We will require details of the number of rooms or units, type, location and how long you anticipate it will be available for.
- Please provide a named contact in your business and a contact address email and telephone number to urgently co-ordinate with Welsh Government.
“Given the need to get people safely into accommodation, we require this information as a matter of urgency. Please could you contact my officials immediately by telephoning 0845 010 8020 or emailing quality.tourism@gov.wales by no later than 4pm on Tuesday 14 April 2020.
Bae Caerdydd • Cardiff Bay Caerdydd • CardiffCF99 1NA
Canolfan Cyswllt Cyntaf / First Point of Contact Centre: 0300 0604400
Gohebiaeth: Dafydd.Elis-Thomas@llyw.cymru
Correspondence: Dafydd.Elis-Thomas@gov.wales
“Rydym yn croesawu derbyn gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg. Byddwn yn ateb gohebiaeth a dderbynnir yn Gymraeg yn Gymraeg ac ni fydd gohebu yn Gymraeg yn arwain at oedi.
“We welcome receiving correspondence in Welsh. Any correspondence received in Welsh will be answered in Welsh and corresponding in Welsh will not lead to a delay in responding.
“We will work with you so that we can quickly put arrangements in place and move vulnerable people into accommodation as part of our collective effort to do everything we can to protect vulnerable people at this time.
“As indicated above, I know that this crisis has brought significant financial challenges to the sector. You will therefore wish to note that funding is available to support local authorities and health boards to secure this vital accommodation and to also provide the requisite support staff to ensure these vulnerable individuals also receive the appropriate wraparound support to address their needs.
“Thank you again for the work some businesses are doing to support the national effort to help keep everyone safe during this emergency.”
Yr Arglwydd Elis-Thomas AC/AM
Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism
