Tensions are beginning to grow across popular holiday destinations due to unregulated accommodation.
The Welsh Parliament has heard how properties are being "crammed with visitors", leading to disputes between neighbours and dampening community relations. Now, a new licensing scheme will be set up to help quell the issues.
Despite the Welsh government attempting to tackle the problem, critics have stated that the licensing is nothing more than a leeway to introduce a visitor levy - often called tourism tax. Tom Giffard, Tory MS for South Wales West, told a plenary meeting in Cardiff that the scheme fails to put "Wales on a level playing field compared to other nations", North Wales Live reports.
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The Welsh government will launch a consultation on the operation of the licensing scheme and fees in December. It plans to introduce consistent standards for all operators in Wales and will require them to produce proof of insurance, planning, and fire-risk assessments.
It comes in response to the boom of short-term holiday lets which have been driven by platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo. As operational requirement are less strict than tradition B&Bs and other traditional lets, fears have grown that such businesses are being undercut.
Economy minister Vaughan Gething said: "A scheme would also give us enhanced intelligence – a comprehensive database, which is not currently available, of exactly who is operating in the industry. It is currently not possible to determine how many visitor accommodation businesses there are in Wales or in any given community".
Mr Gething also noted that the licensing will help the Welsh government develop future tourist policies. Clwyd South MS Ken Skates highlighted the need to address the "major problem" of unregulated holiday lets in Wales.
“It’s depriving good, legitimate, high-quality businesses of customers,” he said. “It’s also creating tensions within neighbourhoods, where properties are being basically crammed with visitors in an unsuitable way. Of course, that leads to many cars being parked in neighbourhoods as well.”
Licensing was proposed as part of the Welsh government with Plaid Cymru. Meirionnydd MS Mabon ap Gwynfor said some of the £17 million spent a day in Wales in flowing out of local communities.
What use is a strong economy at the expense of our communities?” he said.
Mr Giffard added: “The industry has always warned that registration/licensing lite would lose support if it was seen by the industry as a means of collecting a tourism tax.”
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