Licensing of visitor accommodation in Wales

We plan to introduce a licensing scheme for visitor accommodation in Wales, starting with self-catering accommodation.

The scheme will support tourism in Wales by: 

• reassuring visitors that accommodation meets the standards they would expect
• providing a clear regime for providers

On 27 April 2026, the Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill received Royal Assent, at which point the Bill became an Act of the Senedd. 

The Act will:

• create the legal framework for the licensing scheme
• build on plans for a national register of visitor accommodation providers, set out in the Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Act 2025

The Act will also create a Code of Welsh law on tourism. This will: 

• bring together existing laws on tourism
• make the law easier to access and understand

A copy of the Bill as passed by the Senedd, along with an Explanatory Memorandum which explains the purpose and intended effect of the legislation, are here:

• Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill
• Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill: Explanatory Memorandum (revised version 04 March 2026)

A number of impact assessments in relation to the licensing scheme were also undertaken:

• Development of Tourism and Regulation of Visitor Accommodation (Wales) Bill: impact assessments | GOV.WALES

The Act, along with a final version of the Explanatory Memorandum, will be published on the Law Wales website in due course.

The legal default is that the licensing scheme will come into force in March 2030. Before that, there will be further consultation on the regulations to be made under the Act, and guidance on the scheme will be published.

Updates about the licensing scheme will continue to be shared with stakeholders through Visit Wales industry newsletters and bulletins.

For more information, email: StatutoryLicensing@gov.wales