Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, has delivered a speech in the Welsh Parliament criticising the Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru tourism tax.
Mrs Finch-Saunders, who represents the constituency known as being at the heart of the hospitality sector, with leading destinations such as Llandudno, Conwy, and Betws y Coed, was speaking ahead of Wales Tourism Week 2023.
Speaking in the Welsh Parliament, Janet said:
“In co-operation with North Wales Tourism I undertook a review of the potential impact of a tourism tax on the hospitality and tourism industries of Aberconwy.
“The outcomes are clear. Levying additional tax on a Welsh Government priority sector would be counter to policy in most other European countries. They have actively sought to cut tourism tax to stimulate tourism growth, tax revenue, GDP, and employment.
“Across Europe, of course, VAT is levied around 5 to 7 per cent on tourism, as opposed to 20 per cent in Wales.
“Spain and France have four seasons of tourism; Wales has 1.5 seasons.
“Spain has 300 days of sunshine a year; Wales has an average of 60 days.
“Wales has around 34 million total overnight stays; France and Spain have 433 million and 471 million.
“It costs more to get a train from London to north Wales than to fly to Spain.
“The sector is clear that domestic visitors are more likely to choose Spain or France if a tax is introduced in Wales.
“Now that we are celebrating the tourism sector in Wales, the Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru co-operation should reward the sector by scrapping the tax.”
ENDS
Mae Janet Finch-Saunders, Aelod o’r Senedd dros Aberconwy, wedi traddodi araith yn y Senedd yn beirniadu treth dwristiaeth Llafur Cymru a Phlaid Cymru.
Roedd Mrs Finch-Saunders, sy'n cynrychioli'r etholaeth a gydnabyddir fel yr un sydd wrth wraidd y sector lletygarwch, gyda chyrchfannau blaenllaw fel Llandudno, Conwy, a Betws-y-coed, yn siarad cyn Wythnos Twristiaeth Cymru 2023.
Wrth siarad yn y Senedd, dywedodd Janet:
"Ar y cyd â Twristiaeth Gogledd Cymru, mi wnes i gynnal adolygiad o effaith bosibl treth twristiaeth ar ddiwydiannau lletygarwch a thwristiaeth Aberconwy.
"Mae'r canlyniadau’n glir. Bydd codi treth ychwanegol ar sector blaenoriaethol Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd yn groes i bolisi yn y rhan fwyaf o wledydd eraill Ewrop. Maen nhw wedi mynd ati i geisio torri treth twristiaeth i ysgogi twf twristiaeth, refeniw treth, cynnyrch domestig gros, a chyflogaeth.
"Ledled Ewrop, wrth gwrs, mae TAW o tua 5 i 7 y cant yn cael ei godi ar dwristiaeth, yn hytrach nag 20 y cant yng Nghymru.
"Mae gan Sbaen a Ffrainc bedwar tymor o dwristiaeth; mae gan Gymru 1.5 tymor.
"Mae gan Sbaen 300 diwrnod o heulwen y flwyddyn; mae gan Gymru 60 diwrnod ar gyfartaledd.
"Mae gan Gymru gyfanswm o tua 34 miliwn o arosiadau dros nos; mae gan Ffrainc a Sbaen 433 miliwn a 471 miliwn.
"Mae'n costio mwy i gael trên o Lundain i ogledd Cymru nag i hedfan i Sbaen.
"Mae'r sector yn glir bod ymwelwyr domestig yn fwy tebygol o ddewis Sbaen neu Ffrainc os cyflwynir treth yng Nghymru.
"A ninnau nawr yn dathlu'r sector twristiaeth yng Nghymru, dylai’r cydweithio rhwng Llafur Cymru a Phlaid Cymru wobrwyo'r sector trwy gael gwared ar y dreth."
DIWEDD
