A TOURISM leader who is "looking forward" to welcoming visitors back to North Wales after the easing of Covid restrictions has criticised the Welsh Government for “confusion and anxiety” caused.

From May 17 people in Wales will be able to have a pint of beer or a glass of wine inside a pub for the first time in five and a half months.

But Jim Jones, the chief executive of North Wales Tourism, said despite this being a "welcome step" on the road to recovery, he believes the industry has been let down

Mr Jones said: “Whilst this is a welcome step on the road to recovery, let's not shy away from calling out reluctance by the Welsh Government to provide the business sector with a roadmap and alignment with England where 80 per cent of our business comes from. This is something the tourism and hospitality sector will not forget in a hurry.

“A great degree of anxiety and confusion for many of our tourism and hospitality businesses has been caused unnecessarily right the way through this whole pandemic.

“This and continued financial support has been always been our number one ask.

“However, moving forward, and at long last we now have dates to work to, which will be a great relief to so many.

“The opening of indoor hospitality and indoor attractions gives our businesses some certainty to plan their restart. recruit extra members of staff, order stock to cope with a pent up demand for indoor dining, reopening of our restaurants cafes which we anticipate is going to be huge.

“We've all been through so much during the last 12 months and we will welcome back visitors to North Wales with open arms.

“We want the them to enjoy the delights and experiences of North Wales, but please at the same time recognise and respect what our communities have been through also.”

The Welsh Government confirmed on Friday, April 23, that further relaxations will be brought forward from May 17 to May 3 – including the resumption of indoor supervised activities for children, indoor organised activities for up to 15 adults, such as exercise classes, and the re-opening of community centres.

This means Wales will have completed the move to Alert Level 3 by Monday, May 3.

From Saturday, April 24, the rule of six will allow for up to six people from six households to meet outdoors [not including children under 11 years of age or carers from those households].

The Welsh Government has also confirmed the relaxations that will take place on Monday, April 26. Outdoor attractions, including outdoor swimming pools, funfairs and theme parks, will be allowed to reopen, while outdoor hospitality can also resume, including at cafes, pubs and restaurants.

Organised outdoor activities for up to 30 people will be able to take place and weddings receptions can begin again outdoors for up to 30 people.

Wales has the lowest coronavirus rates of the UK nations. The successful vaccine programme continues with a higher proportion of people vaccinated in Wales than other nations of the UK for both first and second doses.

Mark Drakeford, Wales' first minister, said: "The sacrifices we have made continue to show results. By us all working together and sticking to the rules, combined with our vaccination programme, mean we continue to make progress. Rates of the virus continue to fall and the public health situation is improving.

"Due to these efforts we are able confirm more easing of the restrictions from April 26 and for early May we are again able to bring forward some of our plans. However, this progress is dependent on all of us continuing to work together to keep Wales safe.

"At the last three-week review, I set out a forward-look of how the restrictions could continue to be lifted in the weeks ahead, if the public health situation remains stable.

"It will be for the incoming Welsh Government to confirm these arrangements at the next three-week review, which will be held on May 13 – a week after the election.

"It is my assessment that the hospitality sector – bars, pubs, restaurants and cafes – will be able to open indoors from May 17, together with all other tourist accommodation, indoor entertainment and attractions."

Further possible easements are subject to the public health situation remaining favourable.