Retail, hospitality and tourism groups have responded to the latest update from Welsh Government on slowly moving Wales out of lockdown.
First minister Mark Drakeford announced restrictions around non-essential retail and close contact services - like hairdressers, could be changed at the next review announcement on March 12.
He also said that self contained tourism accommodation could potentially reopen at the following review at the start of April.
But hospitality will face a longer wait - meaning the very earliest this sector could open is towards the end of April.
Discussions will also continue on travel rules once the stay at home restriction ends.
It comes as the latest show the infection rate across the country has now dropped to 84 per 100,000 population.
What business groups had to say:
'Glimmer of hope'
Sara Jones, Head of the Welsh Retail Consortium, said: “Many retailers have been hit hardest in this third, and hopefully final, lockdown and today we have a glimmer of hope that we will soon be able to re-open our doors to the Welsh public once more.
"We want to play our part in the rebuild of the Welsh economy, to trade our way to recovery and we look forward to constructive discussions with the Welsh Government on these issues next week.
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“So called non-essential shops are well placed to reopen safely and should be trusted to do so, as they did so successfully at the end of the national lockdown last June and again at the end of the firebreak. We do not believe there is any need to pursue a phased approach to re-opening different sections of non-essential retail.
“It’s therefore essential the Welsh Government maintains it commitment to prioritising the re-opening of our high streets, whilst outlining an ongoing economic stimulus package to encourage consumers to start shopping again and providing an immediate statement on business rates relief post March.
"What Welsh retailers want most of all is to get back to trading, looking after our customers and providing the goods and services we all need and want.”
'Hope for tourism - but hospitality needs to open'
Jim Jones, chief executive of North Wales Tourism, said: “The fact that the First Minister is talking about an Easter opening is encouraging news because we now have a glimmer of light at the end of this very long and dark tunnel.
“Potentially, this is the best news we have had in a year and hopefully heralds the beginning of the end of this Covid nightmare.
"But I must stress, if self-catering businesses open for Easter, we also need to ensure that hospitality is open and that lessons have been learnt.
"Opening our beaches and shops without cafes, restaurants etc will only lead to ‘Bournemouth’ type scenes. This will, quite rightly, upset local communities and is almost irresponsible given scenes we witnessed last year.
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"However, the fact that talks are taking place offers us real hope at last. If as we all hope the tourism industry is able to open for Easter it would be brilliant news.
“While far too many operators have gone to the wall already with the consequent loss of jobs, many of the remaining tourism related companies are in a parlous financial state and are hanging on by a thread.
“We can only keep our fingers crossed that the current lockdown restrictions continue to drive down infection rates so that we can return to something approaching normality.
“This past year has been a hard slog for everybody and it has taken its toll in so many ways, from financial hardship to mental health problems.
“Hard-pressed parents have been climbing the wall as a result of home-schooling and there is a huge pent up demand for holidays.
“Travelling abroad is still a complicated issue so North Wales is really well placed to provide the perfect staycation destination.
“We all deserve a break.”
'Pave the way for reopening hospitality'
海角视频Hospitality Cymru executive director David Chapman said: "The First Minister’s remarks today looking forward are very encouraging and 海角视频Hospitality Cymru looks forward to continuing our close dialogue with Welsh Government over the next two weeks to provide a sound and safe way to enable self-contained accommodation in Wales to open in time for Easter if health conditions allow.
"We’d like to see this pave the way for an orderly reopening with flexible and practical restrictions on the food and beverage offer to get cafes, pubs, restaurants and hotels fully open to guests as soon as we can.
"However, this won't be an overnight process and trading across the serviced sectors is likely to be sub viable for some time, so it is vital we have a two stage financial package - an immediate continuation of the ERF Sector Specific Fund to bolster industry outlets now without help since January 21 to take them through to March 31, and then a new financial year package to include the extension of furlough, a new twelve months business rates holiday and lower VAT, to protect Wales jobs and businesses through to the summer and beyond."
'Get on the front foot'
Ian Price, CBI Wales Director, said: “Further continuation of lockdown comes as little surprise with transmission rates remaining high. However many firms – including non-essential retailers – will be buoyed by the First Minister’s remarks about a potential easing of restrictions in March.
“Continued progress in the reopening of schools is a welcome step forward on our journey to a new normal. From discussions with firms across Wales, we know that reopening schools provides working parents with much needed breathing space. Every effort should now be made to help children catch up on their studies.
“What firms will be looking for in the coming weeks is a plan for how to swiftly and effectively reopen the economy once it’s safe to do so.
"Getting on the front-foot as quickly as possible will hopefully help lessen the lasting economic damage from the pandemic, in terms of jobs and firms protected.”
'Business rates relief and more support'
Ben Francis, FSB Wales Policy Chair stated: “We welcome that the First Minister was able to respond to our call to signal some hope for non-essential retail and close-contact businesses in suggesting that they may be considered for reopening as part of the next review.
“However, the outlook for hospitality and tourism businesses remains worryingly uncertain and these and many other businesses are facing difficult times and tough decisions about their futures with all the possible impact on livelihoods associated with that.
“What is needed now from Welsh Government is urgent action in three areas; firstly a commitment to an extension of the small business rates relief support for the coming year similar to that announced for businesses in Scotland this week by Scottish Government.
"Secondly, clear engagement with affected sectors and detailed guidance for businesses to understand what is required of them ahead of reopening to allow them to plan now, and hit the ground running when the moment to reopen comes.
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"Thirdly, Welsh Government needs to detail as a priority, what further grant support will be available to businesses such as hospitality and tourism businesses, so impacted by this prolonged lockdown and which are in deep fear of a loss of Easter trade.
"We accept these are difficult decisions for the Government to make and Welsh businesses will continue to play their part in helping Wales tackle this awful virus and its impacts.
"However, recovering the economy and communities in Wales will depend on our smaller businesses and so support and attention is needed now to assure that they are in a position to do that."
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