20mph limit damaging tourism

A few years ago there were over 132,000 people directly employed in the visitor economy around 9.5% of the workforce. In 2018, there was £6.3 billion of visitor spending generating £3 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA). This is a contribution of around 6% GVA to the Welsh economy.

Responding to reports that some tourists are reconsidering visiting Wales over the 20mph speed limit, Tom Giffard MS, Shadow Minister for Tourism, said:

“The 20mph speed limit is confusing lots of people, and is making some people, inside and outside Wales, reconsider spending leisure time here.

“While we’re not going to see tourism disappear, a drop in tourism could have a serious impact on communities across Wales.

“This is just one of the many reasons we would scrap the 20mph speed limit, and make sure it’s only used where it is really needed.”

Natasha Asghar, Shadow Minister for Transport, added:

“The problems stemming from Labour’s ridiculous 20mph speed limit seem to be never-ending.

“If bus services stopping and a forecasted multi billion pound hit to the economy weren’t enough, we can now sadly expect to see damage to our Welsh tourism industry as a direct impact of this policy, too.

“As time goes on it becomes increasingly apparent what should be done. The Welsh Conservatives would scrap Labour’s 20mph speed limits and get Wales moving.”