AS THE 2022 tourism season gets underway across Pembrokeshire, Preseli MP Stephen Crabb hosted his Tourism Roundtable with Paul Davies MS joined by 27 key hospitality and tourism operators.
The roundtable, which the MP, has organised regularly over the past few years, has provided an important forum for the trade to talk through their big issues and opportunities so they can be raised directly with the UK Government and Welsh Government.
He was also joined by representatives from Visit Pembrokeshire, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, Wales Tourism Alliance, Pembrokeshire College and Department for Work and Pensions.
The discussion covered business optimism, provision of local services and facilities, Pembrokeshire’s new DMO, UK and Welsh Government legislation, the cost of living and inflation, and staffing and recruitment.
Concern about the downgrading of emergency services at Withybush Hospital was also raised with many tourism providers identifying the acute need to maintain A&E as part of the local infrastructure services required to deliver a strong and successful tourism offer to visitors.
Stephen Crabb MP said:
“We have an outstanding tourism and hospitality sector locally and the quality is getting better and better. What is clear from the roundtable is that Pembrokeshire will see another bumper season.”
“Booking levels are looking strong and big numbers of visitors are anticipated once again.”
“But despite a buoyant outlook, there is no doubt that the current economic climate, along with changes to VAT and Welsh Government regulations, pose real challenges for the sector. Time will tell just how serious these impacts will be.”
“Staffing and recruitment remain a key priority for tourism providers. I’m pleased that Kimberly Ferris from the local Job Centre Plus team joined us for the roundtable. She was able to provide some insight into the work being done to help businesses with their recruitment needs. It was encouraging to hear that the Kickstart employment scheme has been a huge success in Pembrokeshire with a number of the operators on the call having benefited from this initiative.”
Paul Davies Member of the Senedd for Preseli Pembrokeshire said:
“It was really good to hear from tourism businesses across Pembrokeshire about some of the challenges facing the sector. Whilst there is some optimism, there are still concerns around recruitment, rising costs and the impact of some of the Welsh Government’s recent announcements in relation to self-catering businesses, housing and even reforming the school year. I’ll certainly be taking back the concerns highlighted during the meeting and raising them with Welsh Government Ministers at the Senedd.”
