Wednesday 10 August 2022 02:28 PM Mark Drakeford is banned from one of Wales' best-known attractions due to ... trends now
First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford has been banned from one of the nation's best-known attractions because of their 'anti-tourism, anti-English' policies.
The Labour Party leader in Wales, along with his Government ministers, have been barred from the National Showcaves Centre for Wales.
Chairman Ashford Price said he was taking a stand against leaders in Cardiff Bay and in solidarity with businesses in the tourism industry.
Mr Drakeford's crackdown on second home ownership, which will come into force in April 2023, sparked a row between senior political figures and business leaders.
Holiday home owners are exempt from council tax and liable for business rates if they rent out their additional properties for 70 days per year.
New legislation means landlords could be smacked with council tax premiums of up to 300% if they do not let their extra apartments for more than 182 days a year.
A tourism tax has also been proposed.
First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford (picture above) was banned from one of the nation's best-known attractions because of his 'anti-tourism, anti-English' policies
Ashford Price, chairman of the National Showcaves Centre for Wales at Dan Yr Ogof (pictured above) said the Government's second home policy could cause businesses to close
More than £2billion was spent by visitors staying the night in Wales in 2018, according to official documents.
Almost one in ten people are are directly employed by the visitor economy.
According to Wales Online, a sign now being displayed in the Dan Yr Ogof ticket office reads: 'Owing to the Welsh Government’s anti-tourism, and anti-English policies being imposed on the Welsh tourism industry, members of the Welsh Government are no longer welcome at this attraction..
Mr Price said: 'Their policies will lead to tourism businesses being forced to close and thousands of tourism jobs lost.
'The attraction believes that demanding businesses let their properties out for 182 days a year is akin to a 'Soviet-type purge being imposed by the Welsh Government', which also comes in for criticism over some of the other policies it is bringing in.
“I have had the pleasure of meeting two First
