£2m boost for Welsh tourism businesses to invest in weatherproofing
£2m boost for Welsh tourism businesses to invest in weatherproofing
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Welsh tourism and hospitality businesses are set to benefit from an additional £2m in government funding aimed at helping firms mitigate the impact of poor weather on trading.
The Welsh Government has increased the budget of its Year of Croeso Weatherproofing Fund from £1.75m following strong demand from the sector.
Nearly 400 businesses submitted applications to the scheme, which offers grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 to support investments in weatherproofing measures.
The fund is open to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises employing between one and 250 people, with successful applicants able to claim grants covering up to 75% of eligible project costs. Tourism and hospitality account for 11.8% of all jobs in Wales.
Research carried out by Visit Wales in 2024 showed more than half of tourism businesses (55%) identified poor weather as the main factor behind reduced visitor numbers.
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans, said: “Our Welsh tourism and hospitality businesses offer fantastic year-round experiences, but the weather isn’t always on our side.
“By allocating a further £2 million to our popular weatherproofing fund, the Welsh Government is helping nearly 400 businesses stay open longer, keeping people employed, and boosting local economies across Wales.”
