Wales tourism rules eased and travel sector begins to reopen this weekend for holidaymakers

Welsh residents will be able to go on holiday with their household or support bubble from this weekend as the country’s ‘stay-local’ rule is lifted.

The travel and tourism sector is being reopened from Saturday (March 27), which means people only living in Wales can make a getaway to self-contained accomodation. First Minister Mark Drakeford said it’s been possible to lift restrictions because the country’s public health position remains “stable.”

He said: “These further relaxations are part of our careful and phased approach to unlocking the restrictions and enabling people and businesses to resume their activities in the safest possible way.

“We’re only able to do this because of the sacrifices everyone across Wales has made over the last few months – everything you are doing to keep your loved ones safe is also keeping Wales safe.

“The public health position remains stable; our incredible vaccination programme goes from strength to strength – we have headroom to make these changes.”

Where can people in Wales stay?

Self-contained breaks will include hotels with en-suite facilities and room service, as well as caravans and holiday homes where facilities are not shared.

Why are Wales lifting their ‘stay-local’ rule?

Welsh ministers have said the latest easing of Covid rules means Wales is moving out of alert level four and into level three.

It coincides with all travel rules being lifted within the country from tomorrow for the first time since Wales entered lockdown on December 20.

Wales will now become an ‘all-Wales travel area’ until April 12, which means people will be unable to travel in or out of the country for at least another two weeks, unless for work.

It is hoped the relaxation of tourism and travel rules will not be taken advantage of by people living in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland – all still under lockdowns.

What else can Welsh residents do?

From Saturday, organised outdoor activities and sports for under-18s will also be able to take place and groups of up to six from two different households can meet and exercise outdoors.

There will also be a limited reopening of outdoor areas of some historic places and gardens, while libraries and archives will be able to reopen.

Wales has already reopened hairdressers and allowed most school pupils to resume face-to-face teaching, with all pupils and college students expected to return to classrooms after the Easter break.

Supermarkets have been allowed to resume selling non-essential items and garden centres have also reopened, with the rest of non-essential retail and close contact services expected to reopen from April 12.