THE owner of one of the largest tourist attractions in Wales has told Welsh Government ministers to stay away this summer in a show of support for self catering businesses which could be facing ruin as a result of the govenment’s controversial ‘tourism tax’.

A sign being displayed ticket office window at the National showcaves centre at Dan Yr Ogof explains that as a result of what owner Ashford Price describes as the government’s ‘anti-tourism, and anti-English policies’ members of the Welsh Government are no longer welcome at the attraction.

Under the unpopular new regulations all self-catering businesses must let their properties for 182 days a year or face severe business rating penalties, despite the findings of a Wales Tourism Alliance survey which indicates that only 16 per cent of self-caterers in Wales will be able to reach this figure.

Ashford Price (pictured above), Chairman of Dan Yr Ogof said, “I have had the pleasure of meeting two First Ministers for Wales at the caves. The late Rhodri Morgan and Carwyn Jones on more than one occasion and they were always genuinely interested in tourism.

“However, the present Welsh Government with their anti-tourism policies namely the 182-day rule, the proposed tourism tax, and planned alterations to the main summer holidays clearly show that they do not understand or care that their actions will decimate seasonal tourism businesses in Wales.”

“Thirty per cent of self-catering businesses are forecast to close, with a resulting loss of 1,400 Welsh jobs. Is it any wonder that some operators in Welsh tourism are now holding back on any future investment in Wales?” said Mr Price.

“With the resultant job losses, soon the only growth area in Welsh tourism will be the growth in redundant tourism operators claiming ‘benefits’.

“The Welsh Government have used ‘bully boys’ tactics to bulldoze through these new laws, ignoring tourism opposition and leading experts advising against these new proposals.

“For the Welsh Government to take these actions, especially during a cost-of-living crisis, and a recession starting this Autumn that according to the Bank of England will last for over a year and with inflation rising to 13 per cent next year is complete economic madness!”

Mr Price added a dire warning that Wales will pay a heavy price if the so called tourism tax alienates the lucractive English market.

“ Around 80 per cent of all visitors to Wales are English and many of these new policies will be seen as anti-English by the English media. Wales will pay a heavy price if our main tourism market refuses to pay the proposed tourism tax, and vote with their feet and go elsewhere. In a recession people will be looking for ‘bargain holidays’ not holiday regions where you pay a tax for visiting them,” he said.

“The English and Scottish Tourist Boards must be looking on with glee and puzzlement at these self-inflected wounds on Wales, especially the new law stating that all residential areas in Wales that will soon be subject to a 20-mph speed limit.

“Has any thought been given to the increased pollution as tourist vehicles crawl through Welsh towns and villages at 20 MPH in second gear?” he asked.

“Maybe tourists will find it a novelty at being overtaken by bikes, skate boarders and the occasional gymkhana pony as they crawl along but imagine their amazement when they learn that it has cost £30 million to make these changes!

“Surely with power comes responsibilities and a willingness to listen to experts as none of the Ministers involved have ever run a tourism related business.

“My parents always told me as a youngster that you must always stand up to ‘bullies’ hence this is my personal stand to ban Welsh Ministers from the showcaves and show our support for the beleaguered self-catering operators in Wales,” said an angry Mr Price.