Wales’ First Minister has said that consideration could be given to the allowing the tourism industry to partially re-open in time for Easter if falling numbers of Covid cases continue.

After Mark Drakeford’s announcement on Friday (February 19) that the ‘stay-at-home’ restrictions will continue in Wales for a further three weeks, there was hope that self-contained accommodation including - hotels and bed and breakfasts (with room service), as well as caravans and lodges, would be considered for reopening following the next review of restrictions.

From Monday (February 22) children aged three to seven were able to begin returning to schools in a phased way, while some vocational learners on courses that require practical learning, also returned to college.

Following the latest review of coronavirus restrictions, the Welsh Government also announced some minor changes to the current rules:

• Four people from two different households are now able to meet outdoors for socially distanced local exercise. This doesn’t apply to private gardens.

• From March 1, the law will be changed to allow licensed wedding venues, such as visitor attractions and hotels, to re-open but only to perform wedding and civil partnership ceremonies.

• Sport Wales will make arrangements for more of our talented athletes to resume training and playing.

• With more people living and working in older people’s care homes being vaccinated, we will look again at our guidance for care home visiting.

The First Minister said: “I know the last few months of lockdown have been a huge challenge for so many of us, but I want to thank everyone for the way we have worked together as a team to drive infection rates down.

“As coronavirus cases fall, and our successful vaccination programme protects more people every day, there are reasons to be optimistic.

“Our youngest learners will begin going back to school from February 22 and, if the situation continues to improve over the next three weeks, we hope more primary school children and older students will be able to return from March 15.

“We are also able to make some very modest changes to the regulations as we take some very cautious steps to relax some of the strictest lockdown restrictions we have all been living with for so long.

“We are seeing encouraging green shoots as we move into spring, with better weather and brighter days ahead, coronavirus cases falling and our amazing vaccine roll-out continuing at pace.

“We have seen, however, time and again the world over, just how quickly the situation can deteriorate in a matter of weeks. But, if we work together to keep Wales safe, we will see more elements of normal life returning.”

Speaking to the PA news agency, Mr. Drakeford also said that Welsh Government ministers would use the same definitions for ‘self-contained accommodation’ as when tourism returned following the first lockdown.

“We reopened the tourism economy starting with self-contained accommodation last year, and I think the industry made a real success of that,” he remarked.

“It did include, for example, hotels where people can be entirely self-contained.

“That’s the test, that you have to have facilities that are not shared with other people.

“Provided that is the case, then that is what we will be talking about.

“But Easter is a long way off, and these are very preliminary discussions in the hope of, providing things continue to improve, we’d be in a position to begin the first steps of reopening that industry.”

The next three-week review of the regulations will also consider the restrictions around non-essential retail and close contact services.

“I understand how important Easter is for families. The issue of travel for me has never been about borders,” continued Mr. Drakeford.

“It’s about making sure that we protect areas where there is very low transmission from travel from areas where there is very high rates of transmission.”

The Welsh Government’s traffic-light Coronavirus Control Plan has been revised to take account of the emerging new variant strains of the virus and the impact of the vaccine programme.

On Monday evening, Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed England’s lockdown lifting roadmap in steps.

Part of step one in England (from no earlier than March 29), will see the rule of six reintroduced, meaning six people from different households, or an unlimited number from two households can meet outside in public or a private garden.

The ‘stay at home’ order will remain in place until March 29, when it will be replaced with advice to ‘stay local’.

In step two (no earlier than April 12) - non-essential retail, hairdressers and salons, libraries and museums will reopen, whilst gyms and pools will also reopen, for people working out alone or with members of their household.

Pubs and restaurants will be allowed to reopen their outdoor areas only from this date, with takeaway alcohol permitted to go back on sale.

Self-contained accommodation, such as holiday lets without shared facilities will also be able to reopen.

No earlier than May 17, limits on social contact will be eased more in step three, and indoors mixing will be allowed again, with a rule of 6 introduced.

Pubs and restaurants will be allowed to open indoor areas, along with cinemas and children’s play facilities.

Step three will also see overnight stays in hotels and B&Bs resume, along with indoor performances and sporting events.

The Prime Minister said that by step four (no earlier than June 21) the government hopes to lift all limits on social contact.