Stay Home, Stay Safe – Minister for North Wales

* Ken Skates AM.

As we approach the Easter weekend the message from Minister for North Wales Ken Skates is clear – stay home and stay safe.

He said: “This Easter will be very different to the holiday weekends we have enjoyed in the past.  Normally North Wales would be preparing to welcome visitors from near and far, but this year we are dealing with the covid-19 pandemic and the message is clear – stay home. “Accommodation, pubs, restaurants and tourist attractions across the region are closed.  We have taken action to close caravan, holiday parks and campsites, and we’ve given national parks and local authorities the power to close footpaths.  “This unprecedented action has been taken to save lives.  These measures will only succeed if we all follow the guidelines and stay at home.  We all have a responsibility to ensure we do not spread the virus and put lives in danger. “It may be difficult but we must continue to comply this Easter weekend and stay at home. “This is the best way to show our support for the NHS, emergency services and other key workers.  This has been the clear message from across the public sector in Wales including North Wales Police and the Snowdonia National Park. “Thank you for staying at home.”  Michael Bewick, the Chair of the North Wales Tourism Forum said we must comply with the Government’s regulations. “As the Director of an attraction and the Chair of the North Wales Tourism Forum, asking people not to visit is unbelievable, but we are living in a period of national emergency. “Every attraction in North Wales is closed, our principal mountains and beaches are closed and our towns and villages are to all extent and purposes closed. This is going to be an extremely challenging time for the tourism sector. “I’m sure that I can speak on behalf of the whole sector when I thank people for staying away, for staying at their main home and by saying that we very much look forward to welcoming you back to North Wales – in the future.”