Minister Rebecca Evans has today announced an increase to the number of days a self-catering property is required to be made available to let – this will increase from 70 to 182 days in a single year.
A survey by the Wales Tourism Alliance (WTA) found that 84% of self-catering operators in Wales believe they won't be able to continue their business if the lettings laws are introduced.
Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport, Tom Giffard MS said:
“This is a devastating blow to self-catering accommodation providers across the length and breadth of Wales.
“These new letting requirements will frankly be impossible for many self-caterers to meet and will decimate the Welsh tourism industry.
“Labour Ministers should be focused on helping the sector bounce back from Covid, not wreck the fragile recovery and put jobs at risk”.
Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Finance, Peter Fox MS, added:
“I am deeply concerned at this short-sighted move by the Labour Government.
“Those in the tourism sector have been vocal in their opposition to the 182 days figure, and Labour Ministers have simply ignored them.
“Make no mistake – this will cost jobs and livelihoods.”
ENDS/
