MP MARK Williams has renewed calls for a cut in the rate of VAT paid by the tourism and hospitality industry after a meeting of industry representatives in Parliament.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Tourism and Hospitality in Wales, chaired by Mr Williams, met in Parliament for a special-round table with Welsh businesses to discuss key issues facing the industry as part of the British Hospitality Association’s Hospitality and Tourism Day.

The tourism and hospitality industry employs three million people throughout the UK, and in 2015 alone Wales attracted 970,000 international visitors spending £410m, employing around 242,000 people.

The Liberal Democrats passed a motion supporting a cut in VAT on tourism at its autumn conference in Bournemouth in 2015, which would bring the UK in line with many European countries who currently have a reduced level of VAT for tourism.

Mr Williams said: “The Liberal Democrats have been calling for the government to reduce the level of VAT to help our tourism and hospitality industry to compete with those business on the continent."

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