The Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy – Janet Finch-Saunders MS – has welcomed the news that Llandudno has experienced the fastest bounce back since the UK lockdown, when compared to all UK high streets. A new report from Takepayments Limited looked at data from the week of the final easing of lockdown restrictions in England (July 19 2021). Although restrictions in Wales did not ease on the same date, spending in Llandudno saw a 46% increase in card transactions compared to the same period pre-pandemic (2019).
Welcoming the release of the data, Janet said:
“It is a sad fact that the traditional high street has been struggling over the last few years as we change the way we shop. That Llandudno appears to be bumping this negative trend, bringing in visitors who are just as likely to spend their hard earned pounds when exploring the Conwy Valley and surrounding region, is a most heartening sign.
“Local business owners have been telling me that the last fortnight has been busier than ever, with this year’s compact summer season having a profoundly uplifting impact. Hotels are fully booked, significant investments are being made in expanding the tourism offer, and there is such passion for making the sector even stronger.
“With the Queen of Welsh resorts being voted one of the most beautiful coastal towns in the UK in a recent survey and a gold award win in the Coastal Communities class of the recent Wales in Bloom competitions, it is clear that we continue to offer a winning formula in Wales for a relaxing getaway.
“Looking ahead, it is vital that the Welsh Government do not introduce any unnecessarily complex restrictions which could impact this recovery, such as ethically and operationally challenging vaccination passports. With staffing shortages already impacting some operations, our entrepreneurs must not have added worries piled onto their busy workloads.”
ENDS
Photo: Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS welcoming the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Boris Johnson MP, to Llandudno.
