The sudden closure of Oakwood Theme Park has been debated at the Senedd this week, with Pembrokeshire politicians putting forward their fears that they hope the news won’t be a precursor to the ‘decline in tourism attractions’ across Wales.
Responding to the closure of Wales’ biggest theme park, the Wales Tourism Alliance said that the news was ‘disappointing’ for Welsh tourism and jobs.
“In Pembrokeshire over 20% of working people are employed in tourism and hospitality, so this closure won’t just impact the Park’s employees it will negatively affect the local economy as a whole,” said a spokesperson for the organisation.
“A combination of Welsh Government and UK Government decisions including increased national insurance, council tax premiums, 182 day minimum occupancy for holiday lets and proposals for the Welsh visitor levy(tourist tax) risk seriously damaging the Welsh tourism and hospitality industry which contributes £3.8bn to the Welsh economy annually.
“In a recent evidence session to the Senedd finance committee, Mark Drakeford MS denied that these policies would be having accumulative effect on the tourism industry.
“It is surely becoming obvious that a single sector cannot swallow so many changes without there being a cumulative - and wide-ranging – effect which will filter out to the whole economy.
“Many parts of Wales are reliant on tourism and have limited alternative employment opportunities. This means that without jobs in tourism and hospitality local people may be forced to leave their communities in search of work.
“We fear that this closure is just the tip of the iceberg for Welsh tourism,” they added.
Putting forward the matter in the Topical Questions section on Wednesday at the Senedd chamber, Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Senedd Member Sam Kurtz said: “It's really sad news, because Oakwood holds a really special place in the hearts of many in Pembrokeshire and across Wales as well.
“It has been a really important part of our tourism offer in west Wales.”
