The Welsh Conservatives have accused the new Plaid Cymru Government of wasting its first three months in office after announcing a consultation on the controversial 182-day holiday let rule, despite the tourism industry already being at the height of its busiest season.
Almost 100 days after taking office, the only action ministers have taken is to launch a 12-week consultation that will not even conclude until late October, leaving thousands of tourism businesses facing continued uncertainty throughout the summer.
The Welsh Conservatives have confirmed they will submit a full response to the consultation, but say today’s announcement demonstrates that the new government’s much-hyped 100-day plan has delivered another review instead of real action.
Commenting, Paul Davies MS, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for the Welsh Language, Culture, Tourism and Sport, said:
“Almost 100 days into office and Plaid Cymru’s answer is yet another review.
“Tourism businesses needed ministers to get on with fixing this damaging policy before the summer season, not launch a consultation when holiday lets and visitor attractions are already at their busiest.
“The 182-day rule has been causing problems for years. Businesses, representative organisations and opposition parties have repeatedly warned ministers about the damage it is doing to the tourism economy. Nobody needs another three months to discover there is a problem.
“We will respond in full to the consultation and make the case for reducing the threshold to 105 days, as the Welsh Conservatives have consistently argued.
“Today’s announcement is another reminder that this government seems far more interested in commissioning reviews than delivering decisions. Wales’ tourism industry cannot afford to spend another summer waiting for ministers to make up their minds.”
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