The chief executive of North Wales Tourism is looking forward to welcoming visitors back to North Wales after the easing of Covid restrictions but has criticised Welsh Government for “confusion and anxiety” caused.

From 17 May people in Wales will be able to drink alcohol inside a pub for the first time in five and a half months.

Jim 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 to 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 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 First Minister said previously Wales is experiencing the lowest levels of transmission in the UK due to decisions made and control measures in place.