Tourism Industry Update
The Welsh Government introduced new smoking legislation in Wales on 1 March 2021. The main changes are that school grounds, hospital grounds and public playgrounds as well as the outdoor areas of care settings for children are now smoke-free.
For the tourism industry, the new laws mean that the current exemption to the smoking ban which enables smoking to take place in self-contained holiday and temporary accommodation as well as in designated smoking bedrooms in hotels, guesthouses etc. will end on 1 March 2022. The measures, designed to denormalise smoking and protect more people from the dangers of second-hand smoke, mean that from 1 March 2022, it will be against the law to smoke in these areas and fines could be issued.
All types of self-contained accommodation will be covered by the new smoke-free requirements such as cottages, caravans, chalets and Airbnb’s. All hotels, guest houses and inns etc. will also be required to be smoke-free all of the time and will no longer be able to provide designated smoking bedrooms. In preparation for the introduction of the new requirements on 1 March 2022, all owners should prepare to convert any of their smoking accommodation/ designated smoking bedrooms to smoke-free. ‘No Smoking’ signs will continue to be required in a hotel, guest houses etc. Signs could also be displayed in self-contained holiday or temporary accommodation if the owner wishes.
Welsh Government have published guidance on the changes, and you can find details on the changes affecting the tourism industry on GOV.Wales.
If you have any queries or would like more information please e-mail: TobaccoPolicy@gov.wales.