PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Tourism: Coronavirus (13 July 2020)

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what estimate he has made of the effect on the Welsh economy of the reduction in income from tourism to Wales as a result of the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

Asked by:
Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat)

The UK Government recognises the challenges faced by businesses in the wake of Covid-19. This is why we acted quickly and decisively to provide an unprecedented level of support to protect businesses, jobs and incomes in the tourism industry in Wales.

By the end of June, the UK Government had supported 378,400 Welsh jobs through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and 108,000 self-employed people in Wales through the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme.

We have cut VAT by 15% for six months for the tourism and hospitality sectors to kick-start recovery and our Eat Out to Help Out scheme will help get those sectors back on their feet during August.

The Welsh Government has now heeded the call to plan for the full reopening of the tourism and hospitality sectors in Wales. The measures the UK Government has in place will help those sectors in Wales make the most of the remainder of the summer season.

Answered by:
Simon Hart (Conservative)
20 July 2020