VAB7 Individual

Senedd Cymru | Welsh Parliament

Y Pwyllgor Cyllid | Finance Committee

Bil Llety Ymwelwyr (Cofrestr ac Ardoll) Etc. (Cymru) | Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill

Ymateb gan Unigolyn | Evidence from Individual

General principles

1. What are your views on the general principles of the Bill and the need for legislation to deliver the Welsh Government’s stated policy objective, which is to:

§ ensure a more even share of costs to fund local services and infrastructure that benefit visitors between resident populations and visitors;

§ provide local authorities with the ability to generate additional revenue that can be invested back into local services and infrastructure to support tourism;

§ support the Welsh Government’s ambitions for sustainable tourism?

(We would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 500 words).

Generally I agree with these principles but tourism is one of Wales biggest industries which is being hammered by a series of costs that are putting off investment and will shrink its growth and therefore in the long term there will be less tax income if you are not careful.

The Bill’s implementation

The Regulatory Impact Assessment is set out in Part 2 of the Explanatory Memorandum (https://senedd.wales/media/g5ipwvwh/pri-ld16812-em-e.pdf). This includes the Welsh Government’s assessments of the financial and other impacts of the Bill and its implementation.

2. Are there any potential barriers to the implementation of the Bill’s provisions? If so, what are they, and are they adequately taken into account in the Bill and accompanying Explanatory Memorandum and Regulatory Impact Assessment?

(We would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 500 words).

How the tourism tax will be collected and policed is complex and costly and I think it will have a negative effect on visitors choosing to visit Wales. Numbers of visitors are down this year and talk of a tourism take will deter bookings further.

3. Are any unintended consequences likely to arise from the Bill?

(We would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 500 words).

Anti English attitudes of the Welsh government that were exacerbated during Covid are now making tourist feel unwanted and disliked.  Abuse of second home owners by the Welsh Government blaming us for all there past poor decision making. This will all culminate in less tourist over the long term.

4. What are your views on the Welsh Government’s assessment of the financial and other impacts of the Bill?

(We would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 500 words).

The Welsh government don't listen to business or their people. No one wants this tourism tax. On top of all the recent anti tourism measures this is the final nail in the coffin.

Subordinate legislation

The powers to make subordinate legislation are set out in Part 1: Chapter 5 of the Explanatory Memorandum (https://senedd.wales/media/g5ipwvwh/pri-ld16812-em-e.pdf).

The Welsh Government has also set out its statement of policy intent for subordinate legislation (https://business.senedd.wales/documents/s155951/Statement%20of%20Policy%20Intent.pdf).

5. What are your views on the balance between the information contained on the face of the Bill and what is left to subordinate legislation? Are the powers for Welsh Ministers to make subordinate legislation appropriate?

(We would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 500 words).

When making legislation the Welsh government should be much more thoughtful of all the unintended consequences of their actions.  Don't make choices that are so difficult to adhere to that you put off people investing in Wales and as a consequence your young leave to work in England as it is more welcoming and pro business.

Other considerations

6. Do you have any views on matters related to the quality of the legislation?

(We would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 500 words).

You need to make it simple with less red tape making doing business difficult in Wales

7. On 26 November, the Cabinet Secretary wrote to the Finance Committee with some indicative additional registration and enforcement provisions (https://business.senedd.wales/documents/s155952/Letter%20from%20the%20Cabinet%20Secretary%20for%20Finance%20and%20Welsh%20Language%20Indicative%20Stage%202%20amendments%20that%20.pdf) he intends to bring forward at Stage 2 of the legislative process (https://senedd.wales/NAfW%20Documents/Assembly%20Business%20section%20documents/Guide%20to%20the%20Legislative%20Process/Guide_to_the_Legislative_Process-eng.pdf).

Do you have any views on the indicative additional registration and enforcement provisions the Welsh Government intends to bring forward at Stage 2?

(We would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 500 words).

Massive red tape! To what ends, charging people to visit Wales, when most of your visitors are Welsh anyway.  This is a big waste of everyone's time a greedy grab for more money that could back fire with you ending up with less visitors.

8. Are there any other issues that you would like to raise about the Bill, the accompanying Explanatory Memorandum and Regulatory Impact Assessment, or any related matters?

(We would be grateful if you could keep your answer to around 500 words).

Do not pass this bill. It is a big mistake for your tourist industry.  It is your main industry particularly in North Wales and it is being hammered by all the recent measures of, 182 days, A4, council tax raises, so this is a measure to far.