English: I think the Member is perhaps confusing our support for business and local economies and the impact that has on communities. So many tourism businesses support those very communities that you care about and we care about with equal passion. The second point that I think was raised and outlined by Natasha Asghar in particular was the impact that COVID-19 had on our tourism sector here in Wales - lockdowns and restrictions saw a number of businesses shut down, while others struggled to stay afloat - and recognising the support those businesses received from the UK Government but also from Welsh Government in their outreach during that time, very difficult for those businesses. Many Members, of course, were quite passionate about the ideas around the tourism tax, mentioned by Janet Finch-Saunders over Zoom there. James Evans, in particular, had very strong views that it's not a good idea for this sector here in Wales. As Members outlined, leading figures from across the tourism sector are unanimous in their thoughts that they do not support this tax being introduced. And outlined also by Natasha Asghar was, actually, already those businesses are paying above and beyond taxation through VAT compared to other countries. So, a further tax again is perhaps something that may not be helpful at this time. Janet Finch-Saunders referred to the number of people who are working in tourism-related industries - 143,500 people here in Wales. Those very communities that Rhun ap Iorwerth is talking about, those very people in those communities, have been sustained by those jobs. And then, of course, also Tom Giffard brought in, in terms of a tourism tax, that, in some parts of the world, actually, it's being used to reduce tourism. Now, sustainable tourism, we all would agree that that is needed and important for us, but sustainable tourism does not mean fewer visitors or fewer tourists. It doesn't mean fewer businesses. It actually means doing it in a way that includes our communities, and also ensures we have a great experience for our tourists to visit time and time again. I was pleased, of course, that even Mabon ap Gwynfor was able to say how important the sector is to the economy here in Wales. I think the final point, Deputy Presiding Officer, that of course was discussed at great length, and rightfully so, is the proposed changes from Welsh Government on the non-domestic rating system and the impact that this will have on many holiday letting businesses. Russell George's interventions were particularly passionate on this issue - on an important day for Russell George, actually, today, I believe. But it is a very serious issue that certainly needs to be addressed. The criteria for self-catering accommodation being liable for business rates moving up to 182 days - so many existing businesses are saying that they will not be able to achieve that. It's perhaps a technical issue, but a very important issue, about so many of those businesses then folding, and those properties not being able to be used for anything else and then lying there empty. It seems like something that a Government - . I appreciate the Minister's comments in terms of reflecting on that issue. Tom Giffard mentioned that, in the cross-party group on tourism that took place last month, this issue was discussed with Welsh Government officials. I'm grateful to them for their attendance at that meeting. It's clear that the Welsh Government's proposed changes would be significantly detrimental to the livelihoods of many people, and I certainly hope that those comments will be considered seriously. So, in closing, Deputy Presiding Officer, we need to remember that now is the time to encourage enterprise and business here in Wales. We need to encourage people to visit Wales and spend their money in our businesses, sustaining those jobs and those communities that are so vitally important. Visitors to Wales spend significant sums and invest significantly in our country, benefiting our local economies, from hoteliers to restaurants to those who run incredible attractions up and down Wales. I cannot stress enough how important this industry is to our country: 145,000 jobs sustained because of it. Now is the time to celebrate this sector and appreciate that people from across the world come to choose Wales as a place to visit. In today's debate, we have a fantastic opportunity to show the tourism sector that we are on their side, we recognise the exceptional work that they carry out in providing jobs and how important it is to the Welsh economy. So, today I urge everyone to support our motion in front of us. Thank you very much.
Welsh: Rwy'n meddwl efallai fod yr Aelod yn drysu rhwng ein cefnogaeth i fusnesau ac economïau lleol a'r effaith y mae hynny'n ei chael ar gymunedau. Mae cymaint o fusnesau twristiaeth yn cefnogi'r union gymunedau sy'n bwysig i chi ac i ninnau i'r un graddau. Yr ail bwynt a godwyd, rwy'n credu, ac a amlinellwyd gan Natasha Asghar yn enwedig oedd yr effaith a gafodd COVID-19 ar ein sector twristiaeth yma yng Nghymru - arweiniodd cyfyngiadau symud at gau nifer o fusnesau, tra bod eraill wedi cael trafferth i ddal i fynd - a chydnabod y cymorth a gafodd y busnesau hynny gan Lywodraeth y DU ond hefyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru yn eu gwaith allgymorth yn ystod y cyfnod hwnnw, anodd iawn i'r busnesau hynny. Roedd llawer o Aelodau, wrth gwrs, yn angerddol iawn ynghylch y syniadau ynglŷn â'r dreth dwristiaeth, a grybwyllwyd gan Janet Finch-Saunders dros Zoom yno. Roedd gan James Evans, yn arbennig, farn gref iawn nad oedd yn syniad da i'r sector yma yng Nghymru. Fel yr amlinellodd yr Aelodau, mae ffigurau blaenllaw o bob rhan o'r sector twristiaeth yn unfryd eu barn nad ydynt yn cefnogi cyflwyno'r dreth hon. A nododd Natasha Asghar hefyd fod y busnesau hynny eisoes yn talu mwy na threthiant drwy TAW o gymharu â gwledydd eraill. Felly, efallai fod treth bellach eto yn rhywbeth nad yw o gymorth ar hyn o bryd. Cyfeiriodd Janet Finch-Saunders at nifer y bobl sy'n gweithio mewn diwydiannau'n ymwneud â thwristiaeth - 143,500 o bobl yma yng Nghymru. Yr union gymunedau y mae Rhun ap Iorwerth yn sôn amdanynt, yr union bobl yn y cymunedau hynny sydd wedi cael eu cynnal gan y swyddi hynny. Ac wedyn hefyd, wrth gwrs, nododd Tom Giffard, ynghylch treth dwristiaeth, ei bod yn cael ei defnyddio mewn rhai rhannau o'r byd, mewn gwirionedd, i leihau twristiaeth. Nawr, byddem i gyd yn cytuno bod angen twristiaeth gynaliadwy, a'i bod yn bwysig inni, ond nid yw twristiaeth gynaliadwy yn golygu llai o ymwelwyr na llai o dwristiaid. Nid yw'n golygu llai o fusnesau. Mewn gwirionedd mae'n golygu ei wneud mewn ffordd sy'n cynnwys ein cymunedau, ac sydd hefyd yn sicrhau bod gennym brofiad gwych i'n twristiaid allu ymweld dro ar ôl tro. Roeddwn yn falch, wrth gwrs, fod hyd yn oed Mabon ap Gwynfor wedi gallu dweud pa mor bwysig yw'r sector i'r economi yma yng Nghymru. Rwy'n meddwl mai'r pwynt olaf, Ddirprwy Lywydd, a drafodwyd yn helaeth wrth gwrs, ac yn briodol felly, yw'r newidiadau arfaethedig gan Lywodraeth Cymru i'r system ardrethi annomestig a'r effaith a gaiff hynny ar lawer o fusnesau gosod tai gwyliau. Roedd ymyriadau Russell George yn arbennig o angerddol ar y mater - ar ddiwrnod pwysig i Russell George heddiw, rwy'n credu. Ond mae'n fater difrifol iawn ac mae angen mynd i'r afael ag ef yn sicr. Mae'r meini prawf ar gyfer newid i 182 diwrnod o ran gwneud llety hunanarlwyo yn agored i dalu ardrethi busnes - mae cymaint o fusnesau presennol yn dweud na fyddant yn gallu cyflawni hynny. Efallai mai mater technegol ydyw, ond mae'n un pwysig iawn pan fo cymaint o'r busnesau hynny yn methu wedyn, a dim modd defnyddio'r eiddo hwnnw ar gyfer unrhyw beth arall a'u bod yn wag o ganlyniad. Mae'n ymddangos fel rhywbeth y mae Llywodraeth - . Rwy'n gwerthfawrogi sylwadau'r Gweinidog ynghylch myfyrio ar y mater hwnnw. Soniodd Tom Giffard fod y mater wedi'i drafod gyda swyddogion Llywodraeth Cymru yn y grŵp trawsbleidiol ar dwristiaeth a gynhaliwyd fis diwethaf. Rwy'n ddiolchgar iddynt am ddod i'r cyfarfod hwnnw. Mae'n amlwg y byddai newidiadau arfaethedig Llywodraeth Cymru yn niweidiol iawn i fywoliaeth llawer o bobl, ac rwy'n sicr yn gobeithio y caiff y sylwadau hynny eu hystyried o ddifrif. Felly, wrth gloi, Ddirprwy Lywydd, mae angen inni gofio mai nawr yw'r amser i annog menter a busnes yma yng Nghymru. Mae angen inni annog pobl i ymweld â Chymru a gwario eu harian yn ein busnesau, gan gynnal y swyddi a'r cymunedau sydd mor hanfodol bwysig. Mae ymwelwyr â Chymru yn gwario arian sylweddol ac yn buddsoddi'n sylweddol yn ein gwlad, er budd ein heconomïau lleol, o westywyr i fwytai i'r rhai sy'n rhedeg atyniadau anhygoel ar hyd a lled Cymru. Ni allaf bwysleisio digon pa mor bwysig yw'r diwydiant hwn i'n gwlad: 145,000 o swyddi wedi'u cynnal o'i herwydd. Nawr yw'r amser i ddathlu'r sector hwn a gwerthfawrogi bod pobl o bob rhan o'r byd yn dod i ddewis Cymru fel lle i ymweld ag ef. Yn y ddadl heddiw, mae gennym gyfle gwych i ddangos i'r sector twristiaeth ein bod ar eu hochr hwy, ein bod yn cydnabod y gwaith eithriadol y maent yn ei wneud yn darparu swyddi, a pha mor bwysig yw hynny i economi Cymru. Felly, heddiw rwy'n annog pawb i gefnogi'r cynnig sydd o'n blaenau. Diolch yn fawr iawn.