Getty imagesThousands of tourist jobs could be lost in Wales without changes in the rules of “brutal” holidays, warned an industry agency.
The professional association of Self Caterers (PASC) said the members sold, since many letters were no longer viable.
The tax changes of the Board in 2023 made them more difficult to qualify for cheaper commercial rates, in an impulse to improve the access of the premises to the properties at the vacation points.
The Galeses government said that people made “a fair contribution in areas where they have homes or direct business.”
What are the rules on vacations in Wales?
Previously, the properties available for Leet for less than 140 days, and actually leave 70, qualified for lower commercial rates instead of the municipal tax.
That system still works in England.
However, in Wales, properties must now be available for at least 252 days and, in reality, leave for 182.
If not, they can be classified as second houses and responsible for the municipal tax, which in some areas means paying an additional premium.
Nicky Williamson, or Pasc for Wales, warned that many operators were struggling to meet the threshold, partly during the quieter months.
He said without the “bed stock” or car property “we don’t have the facilities for tourists to stay.”
If tourism failed, he added, “then the number of people working in tourism will begin to lose work: pubs, coffees … If there are no tourists, they will survive.”
With the Last figures from the Galeses government Showing 159,000 people employed in the sector, Mrs. Williamson said the negative effect could lead to thousands of job losses.
However, Jeff Smith or the Welsh language campaign group Cymdeithhas Yr Iaith said that measures would help “improve housing supply for local people by reducing the number of second houses and controlling the number of vacation rentals.”
Hey, he also said that they should lead to more affordable homes for local people.
A PASC’s recent survey to measure the mental health of Autocatering operators showed that 94% of respondents were emphasized by the 182 -day rule, and 60% said they did not expect to reach the threshold this year.
Mrs. Williamson said that Shew or an agricultural family, previously encouraged by the Government, encouraged themselves to diversify in the catering cars offer, recently received a tax bill of the Council of £ 37000 due to not complying with the 182 -day requirement.
“The mental effects for the health of that, or simply not knowing if you are going to be landed with a mass bill, are brutal.”
Karen Jones, who directs a vacation holiday business in Conwy County, said she and her husband often contacted regular customers who offered a 20% discount to encourage visits in February and March.
Filling reservations in quieter months delayed other works, such as essential maintenance, and “panic” settled if someone canceled, he added.
Frankie Hobro, owner of the Anglesey Sea Zoo, said he had seen more than 20% fall in the number of visitors since 2023, which “directly linked” to the 182 -day rule.
She said there were “large numbers” or empty properties for sale, because even the car sector that adheres to the 182 -day threshold, but that they were too expensive or inappropriate to be local houses.
She feared that empty houses were bought by large organizations, adding: “They are the only people who can afford to continue managing them as a business. That does not benefit anyone.”
William Matthews, or North Wales’ vacation agency, Oyster Holiday’s holiday house agency, said he understood the principle of change, but believed that the 182 -day threshold was too high.
“The difficult part is that we agree that the houses must be filled throughout the year. We have always pushed those months of shoulder what we can to take customers north of Wales all the time, putting money in the economy.
“However, there is a turning point, and it has gone a bit too far.”
While worrying about the possible effects on investment in northern Wales, Matthews remains optimistic about the future of the industry.
“People will always come on vacation here. I don’t think we lose it,” he said.
The Welsh government said: “We recognize the importance of tourism for the Welsh economy, but we must balance that with the needs of our communities, since everyone is entitled to a decent and affordable house to buy and rent that allows them to live and work.
“Our package of measures to address the impact of second homes and vacation holidays helps to ensure that owners are making a fair contribution in areas where they have homes or direct businesses.”
- Additional reports from Tony Brown and Gwenllian Glyn
