Written question WQ98084

The Welsh Government is committed to supporting the hospitality sector and safeguarding jobs. I regularly meet with hospitality industry representatives through the Visitor Economy Forum to discuss a range of issues relating to the opportunities and challenges facing the sector.

Since 2021, Visit Wales has worked with Careers Wales and the sector to promote career opportunities via the “Experience Makers” campaign. This tackles negative perceptions around working in tourism and hospitality, and encourages people to take up a career in the sector.

We are improving skills in the sector by collaborating with the industry through the Wales Tourism and Hospitality Skills Partnership. We provide dedicated funding for the sector from the Welsh Government’s Flexible Skills Programme to help employers upskill their employees. This has been accessed by a variety of businesses across Wales.

Our Transforming Towns programme is tackling the decline of town centres and falling footfall by creating vibrant hubs – including directly supporting cafes, restaurants and hotels. We are encouraging towns to become places for living, working, learning and leisure, not just shopping – a rejuvenation which will boost the hospitality trade.

The Transforming Towns grant has supported various town centre pubs and overnight accommodation. Such as, the refurbishment of the Grade II listed Knighton Hotel (Powys), renovation of the Castle Hotel in Lampeter (Ceredigion), redevelopment of Market Vaults in Llangefni (Ynys Mon) from a derelict pub into a traditional Welsh Inn, and transformation of a disused Victorian hotel into a hotel, bar, restaurant and community centre at Y Tŵr in Pwllheli (Gwynedd).

Transforming Towns has supported several food and beverage projects, including refurbishment of the former Gas Works in Aberystwyth (Ceredigion) allowing an independent restaurant to expand into a larger venue, and the Forbidden Florist in Haverfordwest (Pembrokeshire) providing a restaurant and coffee bar that trades seven days a week with views over the Western Cleddau.

We have recently awarded nearly £5 million to hospitality and tourism businesses to help them weatherproof their venues.

Since 2020-21, we have allocated more than £1bn across six successive years of additional support for retail, leisure and hospitality businesses with their non-domestic rates bills. This comes on top of our permanent reliefs currently worth £250m to businesses and other ratepayers every year. Almost half of all ratepayers, including small businesses across Wales, benefit from full rates relief. Sector representatives have estimated that around two thirds of hospitality properties in Wales attract full relief, due to their low rateable values.

On 3 December, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Welsh Language announced further details about the non-domestic rates arrangements for next year. As a consequence of the revaluation, all multipliers applicable in Wales next year will be substantially lower than the current multiplier. This will be the first reduction of the multiplier since 2010:

Written Statement: Non-domestic rates support for 2026-27 (3 December 2025) | GOV.WALES

The Welsh Government will provide transitional relief to all ratepayers whose liabilities will increase by more than £300, as a consequence of the revaluation. £116m has been allocated over the next two years to fully fund this relief, supporting all areas of the tax-base in a consistent and straightforward manner.

We have also confirmed further relief for food and drink hospitality properties, including pubs, restaurants and live music venues, in 2026-27:

Written Statement: Non-domestic rates relief for food and drink hospitality in 2026-27 (3 February 2026) | GOV.WALES

Our Business Wales service is available to help small businesses build more resilient businesses and develop their business practices. The service aims to improve productivity and stimulate business growth in an inclusive and sustainable way, through improved investment, export and the creation of good quality employment.

These investments demonstrate the Welsh Government’s commitment to supporting the hospitality sector, safeguarding jobs and ensuring that town centres continue to play a vital role in the economic and social wellbeing of communities across Wales.