VAB29 Roger Broome

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 Roger Broome | Evidence from Roger Broome

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).

This is yet another disincentive for visitors coming to Wales. We are already dealing with the decline in visitor numbers and accommodation occupancy due to a number of factors:-

1. The appallingly small amount that Welsh government spends on advertising Wales to the rest of the world compared with for example Scotland.

2. Concentration on honey pot areas and big attractions both of which need no help

3. Lack of tourism information offices all in our area Cardigan and Newcastle Emlyn have closed.

4. Confusion surrounding the stupid 20mph speed limit - this should only have applied to areas around schools, hospitals, nursing homes etc

5. Closing of visitor centres connected with outdoor activities eg mountain biking

6. Ridiculous parking costs putting off visitors and outsourcing of parking to private companies

7. Lack of banking hubs

8. closing of public toilets

9. the second home tax was not targeted correctly, has affected ourselves who are a tourism business with multiple properties on our farm whilst living on the premises

10. many of our colleagues in this business sector are selling up due to the above

Registration of tourist accommodation would be a good thing if it reduces sub standard airbnb type accommodation. . However adding a Tax to tourists will be another disincentive and will this tax really be spent on supporting tourism

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).

This will require a lot of administration costs together with the bureaucracy required.

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).

this will disincentivise visitors to Wales and Welsh residents travelling within Wales. Tourism does not just provide revenue for the accommodation providers, all of the attractions, hospitality businesses, shops, parking management companies, fuel outlets etc also benefit.

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).

Misguided

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).

LA can increase the levy to levels that effect business. The areas in Wales that are large tourism draws - such as Tenby and its Pembrokeshire surroundings, Snowdonia, Cardiff etc will probably nor find this a disincentive but everywhere else will.

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).

Just to point out that Tourism and hospitality are not on the list of topics we could opt to be informed about - is tourism so unimportant.

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).

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).