Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, has led a debate in the Welsh Parliament on how the Welsh Government can help to attract more international visitors to Wales.
The speech included several policy recommendations, including:
- Developing a brand for Wales abroad
- Improving transport links and availability
- Building on agri-tourism
- Expanding on what Visit Wales offers, and its linguistic barriers
- Cooperating with neighbouring nations
- Scrapping the proposed tourism tax
- Cutting the self-catering accommodation regulation threshold to 105 days
Speaking after the debate, Janet said:
“Our tourism sector here in Wales is fantastic; it makes up 12% of our workforce!
“The whole industry is facing an enormity of pressures, including Covid recovery, inflationary food prices, higher energy costs, a shortage of trained staff, and now they are also being targeted by the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru.
“It is vital that the Welsh Government transforms its approach to tourism, especially in light of international visitors to Wales being down 33%.
“We need a stronger Welsh brand abroad, improved transport links and availability, to build on agri-tourism, co-operate with our neighbouring nations to create Celtic trips, and ensure that Visit Wales is in several foreign languages instead of just German!”
ENDS
Mae Janet Finch-Saunders, yr Aelod o’r Senedd dros Aberconwy, wedi arwain dadl yn y Senedd ar sut y gall Llywodraeth Cymru helpu i ddenu mwy o ymwelwyr rhyngwladol i Gymru.
Roedd yr araith yn cynnwys nifer o argymhellion polisi, gan gynnwys:
- Datblygu brand i Gymru dramor
- Gwella cysylltiadau trafnidiaeth ac argaeledd
- Adeiladu ar amaeth-dwristiaeth
- Ehangu ar yr hyn y mae Croeso Cymru yn ei gynnig, a'i rwystrau ieithyddol
- Cydweithio â gwledydd cyfagos
- Cael gwared ar y dreth dwristiaeth arfaethedig
- Gostwng y trothwy rheoleiddio llety hunanarlwyo i 105 diwrnod
Wrth siarad ar ôl y ddadl, dywedodd Janet:
"Mae ein sector twristiaeth yma yng Nghymru yn wych; mae'n cyfrif am 12% o'n staff!
"Mae'r diwydiant cyfan dan bwysau enfawr, gan gynnwys dod dros Covid, prisiau bwyd wedi codi, costau ynni uwch, prinder staff hyfforddedig, a nawr maen nhw hefyd yn cael eu targedu gan Lywodraeth Cymru a Phlaid Cymru.
"Mae'n hanfodol bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn trawsnewid ei dull o ymdrin â thwristiaeth, yn enwedig o ystyried bod nifer yr ymwelwyr rhyngwladol â Chymru wedi gostwng 33%.
"Mae angen brand cryfach ar Gymru dramor, gwell cysylltiadau trafnidiaeth ac argaeledd, adeiladu ar amaeth-dwristiaeth, cydweithredu â'r cenhedloedd sy’n gymdogion i ni i greu teithiau Celtaidd, a sicrhau bod Croeso Cymru mewn sawl iaith dramor, ac nid dim ond Almaeneg!"
DIWEDD
