Latest news with #Cymraeg2050
Time Out
5 days ago
- Time Out
Wales is introducing a tourist tax: date, cost and everything you need to know
Think Wales is all misty hills, choirs and cwtches? Think again. In 2027, the nation getting something decisively less cuddly: a tourist tax. Bad news for visiting Gavin & Stacey fans, perhaps, but better news for locals. The idea is to make tourism more sustainable, ease the strain on local services, and help preserve the Welsh language. It's all part of a long-brewing plan to ensure tourists give a little something back to the areas they Instagram to oblivion. To be clear: this isn't a crackdown on holidaymakers. Wales's incoming scheme is a modest levy, not unlike the ones already existing in Barcelona or Paris. Here's everything you need to know about it. When will Wales introduce a tourist tax? Last week, the Senedd (AKA the Welsh Parliament) passed a law letting local councils bring in a visitor levy. It won't kick in til 2027, though, leaving plenty of time to go to Wales without the surcharge. Plus, it won't be applied everywhere automatically. Each regional council will decide for itself whether to adopt it. How much will the tourist tax cost? From 2027, you can expect to pay a very reasonable £1.30 per person per night if you're staying in a Welsh hotel, B&B, Airbnb or similar. Hostels and campsites are even cheaper, setting you back £0.75 per adult per night, and anyone under 18 is exempt. Yep, kids go free. You also won't pay the fee if you're lodging with family, staying in their main home, or booking a place for more than 31 consecutive nights. What's the money going towards? All sorts. The Welsh government plans to use the tourist tax money (estimated at a whopping £33 million a year) to fund events, improve local infrastructure and, crucially, to protect and promote the Welsh language. This is because only 27.8 percent of people in Wales speak Welsh – the lowest figure in eight years. The hope, then, is that this extra cash can help turn that around, funding things like language classes, cultural events and proper bilingual signage. It's all part of Cymraeg 2050 - the government's big ambitious plan to hit a million speakers by the middle of the century. The Duolingo owl is on standby. Will the tax affect all of Wales? Not necessarily. Each council will decide whether to introduce the tax in its area, so you might be charged in some parts of the country and not others. If you're planning a trip post-2027, it's worth checking in advance. Is anywhere else in the UK doing this? Well, yes. Some already have in fact. Scotland's ahead of the game, as ever, with Edinburgh introducing a 5 percent tourist tax in 2026, with Glasgow following in 2027. In England, it's a bit trickier. Councils don't currently have the legal powers to introduce a tourist tax without new legislation from central government – and Downing Street has a lot on at the mo. But cities like Manchester and Liverpool have found a crafty workaround. Using something called a Business Improvement District (or BID), they've introduced local hotel charges funded by businesses themselves. Blackpool, Great Yarmouth and Bournemouth are looking at similar schemes.
Euronews
11-07-2025
- Euronews
Welsh tourist tax to launch in 2027 to keep native language alive
It's been a long time coming, but Wales has confirmed it will allow local councils to introduce a tourist tax starting in 2027. The levy will add £1.30 (€1.50) per night to the price of accommodation in Wales, or £0.75 (€0.90) for visitors over the age of 18 staying on campsites and in hostels. The tax won't be universally applied across Wales. Rather, different regional councils will decide for themselves whether to introduce the levy in their area. Some exemptions have been noted too, including when lodging with family or at an individual's sole or main residence, or staying for over 31 days in a single period. First floated in 2018, a public consultation for the proposed tourist tax was held in 2022. Now that it's officially passed into law by the national parliament, the new Welsh tourist tax is expected to come into force in 2027. What will Wales tourist tax be spent on? Taxes on visitors are nothing new, but efforts have significantly ramped up in recent years. As long ago as 1910, France introduced its 'taxe de séjour,' becoming the first country in the world to do so. Today, more than 60 destinations around the world have such a tax in place, including Barcelona, Amsterdam and, since April, Venice. In most cases, the proceeds from such taxes are used to fund specific projects or events, market the destination, or diversify the economy of areas reliant on tourist cash. The Welsh government also says it will use the earnings to fund improvements to infrastructure that will benefit both residents and tourists, including toilets, footpaths, beaches, and support visitor centres. But it has another plan for its tax winnings, and it's about protecting one of the country's most unique elements. Welsh language speakers are in decline: latest figures from the Welsh Government show that as of 30 June 2024, just 27.8 per cent of people aged three and over were able to speak Welsh. This was the lowest percentage recorded in the last eight years - and around 1.4 percentage points lower than in 2023. Will the tourist tax in Wales really help revive the national language? Efforts are already underway to boost the language under the government's Cymraeg 2050 plan, which aims to have a million Welsh speakers by 2050. To date, much of the work has focused on children, including school curriculum reforms and the promotion of Welsh-medium playgroups (Cylchoedd Meithrin). But more efforts are needed to get to a million Welsh speakers, and the estimated £33 million (€38 million) raised from such a tourist tax is seen as a valuable vehicle for driving this change. The new visitor levy could support the language 'particularly within Welsh-speaking communities where tourism is considered a significant contributor to the local economy,' said the Welsh Government'. How this translates into concrete action remains to be seen, particularly given the element of local authority autonomy. However, it also suggests that revenue could be used to 'promote the visibility, vitality, and viability of the Welsh language, as well as increase the awareness and appreciation of visitors and residents alike'. More UK cities are planning to charge visitors The idea of making tourists pay more to directly support the local area is gaining traction across the UK. Last year, Edinburgh announced plans to become the first Scottish city to introduce a tourist tax, which will apply from 2026. The fee has been set at five per cent of accommodation costs and is expected to raise up to £50 million (€59 million) a year to be used to make improvements to the city. In England, primary legislation would be required to permit a tourist tax, with neither central government nor local councils having the power to introduce such a levy. However, other UK cities are getting in on the action via a legal workaround that could be rolled out more widely in the coming years. Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) are partnerships operated by local businesses intended to provide additional services or improvements to a specific area. Through this mechanism, cities can collect additional business rate payments (BID levies) from companies in that district. Several English cities have already used this to target tourism, and more are set to follow. Manchester introduced an 'accommodation BID' in April 2023, known as the 'City Visitor Charge.' Liverpool established a similar system at around the same time, and tourism BIDs also exist in cities including Blackpool, Great Yarmouth, and Tweed Valley. The combined unitary authority of Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch (BPC) revealed plans to apply a £2 (€2.30) per night 'visitor charge' this summer, although a backlash from the hospitality sector has put the plans temporarily on hold. BPC maintains that as many as 60 other UK cities are poised to introduce levies through the BID system.
Wales Online
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Wales Online
England's only Welsh language school 'could close' as Welsh Government withdraws £90k funding
England's only Welsh language school 'could close' as Welsh Government withdraws £90k funding Ysgol Gymraeg Llundain, in Ealing in London is the only Welsh language school outside of Wales Pupils at Ysgol Gymraeg Llundain/London Welsh School in 2023 (Image: London Welsh School ) The future of a Welsh language school in London is said to be in doubt if the Welsh Government withdraws its funding. Ysgol Gymraeg Llundain, in Ealing in London, has been teaching children in the capital to become bilingual in both Welsh and English for seven decades. However, the school fears it will lose a £90,000 Welsh Government grant. The school had been receiving funding via the Cymraeg 2050 strategy, a Welsh Government strategy to achieve one million Welsh speakers by 2050. The school has reportedly received this grant for many years, but has now been told it will be withdrawn by March next year. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here The Welsh Conservatives say the school's funding was never intended for formal education. Losing it will mean closure, it is claimed. A source close to Ysgol Gymraeg Llundain said: "The decision to cut funding is abrupt and unjust. Not only have we been given less than a year's notice, but the funding is being withdrawn part-way through an academic year — an approach that is both unreasonable and deeply disruptive. "It leaves teachers in a position of anxious job uncertainty and families with no viable school alternatives. Article continues below "The closure of the school would mean losing a unique educational setting, a deeply rooted community, and a proven model of cultural and linguistic transmission. "The school is already doing everything the Cymraeg 2050 strategy sets out to achieve: creating fluent speakers, embedding Welsh in daily life, and building an intergenerational community around the language. "Re-directing funding elsewhere would not only dismantle this success, but require years of investment to even begin replicating it — with no guarantee of the same results." Conservative shadow Welsh secretary Mims Davies said: "This is yet another example of these two Labour governments working in tandem to fail Wales. "It is appalling Labour is continuing to shoot down opportunities both in Wales and beyond with their policies on independent schools and now withdrawing this funding. "For the sake of all of our young people, I urge these governments to wake up and stop failing our youngsters." The issue was brought up in the Senedd by independent MS Rhys ab Owen. He said: "The grant of £90,000 to Ysgol Gymraeg Llundain, the London Welsh School, will come to an end in March of next year, in the middle of the school's academic year. "The school is clear: without that £90,000, the school will close, and thereby bring to an end 70 years of Welsh education in London. "The school has ensured generation after generation of Welsh speakers. For such a small figure £90,000, the implications are huge for the school—teachers will lose their jobs, children will have to leave the school in the middle of an academic year, and the impact will be huge on the broader London community. "It would be a great shame if the school had to close because the Welsh Government wasn't providing £90,000 to them." The school, originally founded in 1958 by a group of parents who sent their children to Welsh lessons in London, began with 30 pupils. In 2015 it moved from Wembley to Ealing and has started new initiatives to bring in income and pupils, including a mother and toddler group, a before and after school club and hiring out hot desks to parents to work from inside the building. Article continues below In 2023, the school said it had seen its number fall as families returned to Wales post-pandemic. You can read about that here. The Welsh Government has been asked for comment.
Leader Live
16-06-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
Flintshire teacher's Welsh tutoring in maths, science and biology
Recognising local demand for tutoring delivered in Welsh outweighed existing provisions, Dafydd Jones, from Hawarden, founded Tiwtora ATOM in January 2024, offering personalised tutoring in maths, science, and biology, for Welsh-speaking learners. Qualified teacher Dafydd, turned to Business Wales for vital support in structuring and launching his venture that directly aligned with the Welsh Government's Cymraeg 2050 goal to support and facilitate a million Welsh speakers by 2050. Read more: Report has headteacher "exceptionally proud" of Wrexham school Business Wales Adviser, Gwawr Cordiner, played a pivotal role in guiding Dafydd through the initial phases of business development, helping him identify effective paths to achieve his company's objectives. He benefited from one-to-one guidance and workshops covering essential business skills such as financial management, administration, and strategic planning. Thanks to the comprehensive support Business Wales provides to companies, Dafydd has successfully established and rapidly grown Tiwtora ATOM into a viable and sustainable service offering focused learning for Key Stage 3, 4, and 5, specifically designed for Welsh-speaking students. Read more: Paper mill supports Flintshire schools with donation and site visit Speaking about the inspiration for his service and the Business Wales support that made its creation possible, Dafydd said: "Tiwtora ATOM was born from my desire to make a meaningful impact on students who need extra academic support, particularly Welsh speakers who may find fewer tutoring options. I want to give each student a personalised experience where they can thrive without the pressure often associated with traditional classroom settings." "Since our initial communication, Gwawr has been a rock of support for me. She listened to me and my thoughts about the kind of service I wanted to provide from the beginning, and she supported them. That greatly increased my self-confidence." Read more: Report reflects "care, hard work and dedication" at Flintshire school Dafydd took part in several Business Wales webinars to support entrepreneurs to gain valuable insights into the fundamentals and practicalities of business ownership, including 'Start and Run Your Own Business' and 'Managing Your Finances and Taxes'. Dafydd added: "Gwawr took the time to understand my objectives and skill set before making recommendations that enabled me to rapidly acquire and hone the abilities I would need to launch my company. "She has been instrumental in helping me navigate the challenges of running a business, especially the administrative side. Their guidance has made it much easier for me to get started and feel confident in my decision to go self-employed." Read more: From homeless mum to award-winning Flintshire business owner Dafydd plans to hire additional staff ahead of the National Eisteddfod in Wrexham, allowing him to focus on further developing the business and expanding Tiwtora ATOM's ability to deliver a positive impact for Welsh-speaking students. Business Wales Adviser Gwawr Cordiner said: "By offering his services in the Welsh language, he has a real niche that other similar businesses in the area don't have. This may seem strange considering the level of love and use of Cymraeg in Flintshire, which is clear to see from the scale of customer demand Dafydd has experienced. Read more: "Dynamic" Flintshire headteacher "immensely proud" after Estyn inspection visit "It's rewarding to know that the services we provide exclusively to Welsh companies are directly supporting the crucial Cymraeg 2025 target to create a million Welsh speakers. Passionate teachers and entrepreneurs like Dafydd are key to achieving that goal, and I look forward to further supporting the continued growth Tiwtora ATOM. "I hope other Welsh entrepreneurs both follow Dafydd's example in supporting our Welsh language and understand that they have ready access to expert business support that simply isn't available in other nations." • Business Wales is funded by Welsh Government. For more information and support, visit: or call 03000 6 03000.
Leader Live
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Leader Live
Delyn MS provides updates from across North East Wales
MS for Delyn It was recess last week in the Senedd, which gave me the chance to get out and about in North East Wales – and it was interesting to see the response from the ban on disposable vapes coming into effect. My first job in government was back in 2017 when, as Minister for the Environment, I kicked off the process to ban single-use plastics in Wales, as part of a wider effort to tackle plastic pollution, reduce litter and landfill and move Wales towards a circular economy – the law finally came into effect in 2023. The recent disposable vapes ban takes that legislation a stage further – littering spoils our communities, introduces harmful substances into soil, rivers and streams and causes harm to biodiversity and many people will have seen discarded vapes lying around, so I wholeheartedly support this ban. Regular readers will know that I've been learning Welsh for some time, so it was good to hear about the boost to the language this week – after a two-year study by the Commission for Welsh Speaking Communities, the Welsh Government has accepted several proposals to protect Welsh as a community language. As the commission says, Welsh is a national language that belongs to us all – whoever we are, wherever we live or however much of the language we speak – so efforts to protect the language for future generations, as well as the target of increasing the number of Welsh speakers to one million by 2050 as laid out in the Cymraeg 2050 action plan, gets my full support. This week is Volunteers Week, an annual campaign to celebrate and recognise the contributions of volunteers in our communities and to highlight the diversity and unity of volunteer work across the UK. Our communities have a real debt to the people who give up their time to volunteer and, along with all the grassroots organisations which rely on volunteers, Volunteers Week is a good time to simply say 'thank you'. I am grateful to all those across our communities who give up their time to help others and our corner of North Wales wouldn't be the same without them. It was recently announced that free period products are now available in even more public spaces across Wales, thanks to the Welsh Government's £3.2m Period Dignity Fund. From schools and colleges to libraries, leisure centres, food banks, sports clubs and youth hubs, essential period products are now freely accessible to thousands. With the aim to eradicate period poverty by 2027, no one should have to miss out on education, work or social life due to a lack of access to period products. Our local authority, Flintshire County Council, has introduced 'reusable period product parties', which have made a practical difference, providing free reusable kits and encouraging open, everyday conversations about menstrual health. These efforts are part of a wider plan to tackle period poverty and improve access to menstrual health support across Wales. More locally, Flintshire Local Voluntary Council (FLVC) has recently opened applications for its Youth Led Grants – if you are aged between 14 and 25 and full of ideas to make a difference in your community, then these grants of £250 to £1,000 are now available to help you kickstart youth-led volunteering projects here in North East Wales. Whether you're passionate about tackling poverty, boosting mental health, protecting the environment or celebrating Welsh culture – FLVC want to hear from you. Funded projects should support one or more of the Well-being of Future Generations Act goals and money can be used for equipment, materials or anything needed to get your idea off the ground – to find out more, call Heather Hicks on 01352 754004 or email or info@ And on the funding theme, congratulations are in order for two local organisations which have secured National Lottery Community Fund grants. Daffodils in Mold, a charity which supports disabled and additional needs children and their families, has secured £20,000 which will help to create a weekly two-hour youth club in Sychdyn, monthly tenpin bowling and swimming sessions at the Jade Jones Pavilion and a festive Christmas party. Also, Cilcain village hall has been awarded a grant to install solar photovoltaic panels on the roof of the village hall – Cilcain is an active and lively village with real community spirit and the village hall is very much the hub of the community. Llongyfarchiadau to both organisations! As always, if you would like advice and/or support, please don't hesitate to get in touch on any of the following contact details – 52 High Street, Mold, Flintshire, on 01352 753464 or by email You can also keep up to date via my Facebook page – Constituents are, of course, welcome to contact my office to arrange an appointment to see me, you don't need to wait for an advice surgery.
