MP welcomes easing of lockdown rules on hospitality and tourism

* Among the local hospitality businesses now trading again is The Hand where people are just allowed to use the new outside seating area. 

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes has welcomed the news that restrictions on hospitality and tourism businesses in Wales are being eased this week. 

Tourism bookings can be made for stays after July 11. This will be at people’s own risk and the official advice is that they should check with the accommodation provider before they book. 

This includes any accommodation that is entirely self-contained, e.g. holiday cottages, holiday caravans including touring caravans, motorhomes, boats and some glamping accommodation with their own kitchens and bathrooms that no other guests use.

The proposed guidance also allows hotels and other serviced accommodation - B&Bs, hostels, etc - that do provide en-suite rooms and can provide room service meals to re-open.

Caravan parks where accommodation is entirely self-contained may be allowed to re-open – but shared facilities on the premises will remain closed, such as swimming pools, leisure facilities, shared shower and toilets blocks, shared laundry, etc, and public areas in other accommodation types.  

This means any caravan or touring site where individual accommodation has its own supply of water for on board shower, WC and cooking with strict application of guidance on shared waste disposal and water points.

Simon Baynes MP, who is a Vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Hospitality and Tourism, said: “Tourism and hospitality businesses are the lifeblood of many of our local economies in rural Wales, contributing around £509 million a year in Denbighshire alone. Many people locally are hugely reliant on the industry for income and jobs.

“Many Clwyd South businesses will have had a really hard time over the past few months. So it’s right that as cases remain low, we look towards safely opening up to visitors to get our economy going again, providing the warm welcome our tourism and hospitality business are known for.”