Dates and funding clarity are wanted from Welsh Government this week to protect jobs and give locked down sectors hope about reopening.
First Minister Mark Drakeford will give a coronavirus briefing on Thursday after the latest review of restrictions and has said the hospitality sector can expect “clarity” over what will happen over the next few weeks.
There will also be pressure to give an indication on business funding after a previous hope that more money would come in April looks to have been dashed.
This month saw a further £150m made available to support Welsh businesses in dealing with the continued impact of the coronavirus pandemic - with this to help businesses with their “costs up to March 31”.
But the Government has since told Business Post that the support for invoices owing in March was “therefore covering costs payable through to the end of April” and that they did not expect any further announcement until a new government was in place after the Senedd election on May 6.
With the latest polls indicating no clear winner this could mean a further wait after that date while a government is formed.
Welsh Independent Restaurant Collective (WIRC) member Natalie Isaac, said: “The last round of financial support from Welsh Government was to cover the period up to 31st March, and this was clear in all documentation that supported the distribution of those funds.
"It appears that Welsh Government are now attempting to move the goalposts and say that funding was intended to cover the entire period until post-election. In other words, until at least May 6th and probably beyond that.”
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They did though welcome the hoped for clarity due for the sector this Thursday.
David Chapman, executive director of 海角视频Hospitality Cymru, said: “We continue to press the Welsh Government for the vital financial support needed to see businesses through to reopening at a viable level and protect as many jobs as possible and we will be seeking further discussions this week to do so.
“Of course, the best way to ensure businesses survive is to get them open. Let’s get outdoor hospitality open at the earliest day indicated on 23rd April and indoors to follow as quickly as possible.”
Andrio Da Silva, joint owner of Virgilio’s in Colwyn Bay, said indoor hospitality was on a “dark road”.
He said: “Mark Drakeford needs a plan and clarity - it’s not much to ask. We feel so let down and in the dark we can’t even look to plan anything.
“People don’t know when they can work.”
Rich Watkin, co-director of the The Fat Boar in Mold and Wrexham, said: “The support package to date we have received from the Welsh Government has been very generous and fair in my eyes, what we need now though is a timeline of when we can get open.
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“We would all rather be trading safely, rather than relying on grants to survive.
“The package has been generous but if there is to be no more funding until May, then being able to plan at the earliest opportunity for a re opening outdoors and indoors is imperative. We need to know dates.”
Jim Jones, the chief executive of North Wales Tourism, said: “Firstly, we need a proper plan and a proposed timetable post April, along the same lines as the 海角视频 Government so that we have a coherent and coordinated approach.
“Personally, I would like to see some flexibility in the speed on which we can start to open the sector. The positive news about the vaccine roll out and the reduction in covid transmission should allow for this.
“Waiting for something to happen has a greater impact than just the time that is lost. The uncertainty leads to anxiety and desperation which in turn has a massive impact of the mental and physical wellbeing of people.
"We understand that plans may slip, which can also be the case with the 海角视频 Government’s road map but the Welsh Government need to bring the business sector along with them.
"They need to tell us the conditions on which things may slip so we can keep a watching brief and keep an eye on the data also. If the data is good we can be optimistic and if it isn’t as good as we all hope, then we will understand and can prepare ourselves accordingly. Quite simple really!
"Secondly, I cannot emphasise enough the need for continuing financial support from Welsh Government to help our sector recover. "We will not be out of the woods for many years as it is going to be a very bumpy ride with lots of challenges going forward.”
Neil Rowlands, the general manager at the Tre-Ysgawen Hall Hotel on Anglesey, said: "In terms of funding and from how I understand the position when we finally get told what the roadmap is it is unlikely that hospitality will be able to reopen immediately and when we can we will most likely have captivity restrictions imposed.
"Trading under such restrictions is like swimming with one arm tied behind your back!
"With the Senedd elections due in May it should be understood business costs don't pause for politics.
"As it stands the support available contrary to common belief does not go far enough and month on month businesses lucky enough to qualify (and some still don’t) for support are still running at a significant deficit.
"Businesses have now had 12 months of zero income (apart from those that opened for the 6 weeks last summer) and two months of cash drain.
"Many business now have taken on further debt just to survive in the hope better times are ahead.
"We have all come so far in such challenging times, we hope light is now at the end of the tunnel for everybody so to play party politics now over funding is simple not appropriate and could be counter productive to all the support offered to date."
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