Wales to reopen its borders for holidays from July, First Minister announces

Wales is set to ease lockdown and reopen its borders to English holidaymakers from July 6th. 

If the science permits, the ‘stay local’ guidance currently in place in Wales will be scrapped, says First Minister Mark Drakeford. 

This means people, including those from England, will be allowed to stay in self-contained accommodation such as second homes, holiday cottages, static caravans and a limited number of hotels.

From Monday 13th July tourism businesses will be allowed to take bookings.

This announcement comes after months of Wales’ borders being effectively closed and shows Mr Drakeford’s preparation to announce the latest stage of lockdown easing today. 

From July 13th, people will also be able to go on holidays to static caravans (with kitchen and toilet), rent a cottage, or to a hotel that has turned itself into self-contained accommodation.

Speaking to BBC Radio Wales, Mr Drakeford said: “The visitor economy in Wales needs to use the coming three weeks to prepare to re-open self-contained accommodation in Wales during the month of July.

“Self-contained is very important. Stay local remains for two weeks because coronavirus spreads where people come together where they share facilities.

“If you have in Wales a static caravan that has got its own kitchen and bathroom, if you are renting a cottage, if you are going to a hotel that has turned itself into self-contained accommodation there will be a clear signal for me today to use the next three weeks to get everything you need in place.”

He continued: “You will be able to start taking bookings for after July 13. I am aware how important these businesses are for so many communities in Wales and planning ahead will let that industry work with the local communities

“We also have to be able to secure community consent for people travelling back into areas that have seen very few visitors and very little coronavirus.

“The people who work in the industry are the local people and they live in these places so the industry is well-placed to have those conversations. People outside Wales know that Wales will be open provided that the virus is under control.”

Mr Drakeford is ready to announce during the Welsh Government briefing on Friday that shops can reopen providing they can ‘take all reasonable measures to comply with the physical distancing duty in Welsh law’.