2. Statement by the First Minister: Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 11:23 am on 10 June 2020.

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Photo of Mark Drakeford Mark Drakeford Labour 11:23, 10 June 2020

Well, Llywydd, let me say that the future of the tourism industry is very much in my thoughts and in the work that we do within the Welsh Government. I absolutely appreciate what an enormous impact the virus has had on that sector here in Wales. I wanted to give an indication that there is some hope for that sector, too, and that there are some ways in which we might yet be able to resume some tourism activity during the current season, but it will have to be, as Paul Davies has rightly said, with safety at the forefront of our thinking. We have very regular contact with tourism organisations and interests in Wales. I had a meeting only yesterday with the Minister responsible, with senior officials here, reporting on those conversations and thinking ahead to what we might be able to offer in terms of lifting the lockdown. If it is possible, then, beginning with self-contained accommodation, where people are not sharing kitchens and toilets and showers and so on, seems to be a sensible and safe way of thinking about how we can resume activity in the tourism industry.

The other key factor—and Mr Davies will be very well aware of this, I know, from his local representation—is that it has to be done with community consent. He will know the level of anxiety there has been in parts of south-west and north-west Wales during the pandemic, of people coming into those areas from places where the virus has been in more virulent circulation, and of the risk of the virus coming into places where it's been in low circulation and the impact that that could have on local services and local lives. So, there's a job of work for the industry to do, as well, in having those conversations with local populations—many of those people work in the tourism sector themselves—so that as we move, if we are able to, to allow tourism to resume in Wales, people who travel to those communities can be sure that they would be welcome, and that the industry will once again be demonstrating to people everything that Wales has to offer.