NORTH Wales' tourism and hospitality businesses have mixed feelings going into the bank holiday weekend, it has been said.

Jim Jones, CEO of North Wales Tourism, said the industry "can't wait to forget" what he labelled a "nightmare" year.

He said: "In terms of feedback, it's been a real mixed bag.

"It is good that we're going in the right direction to reopen, but not everyone can open outdoors.

"And the weather's not looking great this weekend so that puts a bit of a dampener on things.

"The day we're all looking forward to is May 17 when hopefully the indoor hospitality can reopen.

"So at the moment people are trying to make the most of it, until we can get back to some form of normality.

"At least we have this date so people can prepare - they have to recruit people and order stock.

"Ultimately we'd have liked to see [all] hospitality open for the May Bank Holiday, but we will have to bide our time."

Speaking of the impact of the pandemic on the region's tourism, he added: "It's been horrendous - a nightmare for everyone involved in the hospitality sector.

"It's a year we can't wait to forget and we hope we never have to go through something like that again. "But we're not out of the woods yet. People have been reliant on the Government schemes and support. "When some businesses haven't generated any income for the last 12 months, there's more help needed to get them back up and running."

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “We have made unprecedented levels of funding available to support Welsh businesses during these incredibly challenging times, with a full 12 month rates holiday package until March 2022 for those in the hardest hit sectors.

"To date we have provided more than £2bn in business support during the pandemic, safeguarding 165,000 Welsh jobs.

“Our comprehensive package of financial support for Welsh businesses will continue throughout April and into May.

"Many businesses will already have received their full share of the £180m funding announced in mid-March upfront to see them through until May, for others, including in the hospitality and tourism sector, cash grants will continue to be paid during April as applications are confirmed.

“Businesses will therefore see no interruption in the flow of financial support, as we move cautiously to relax public health restrictions.

“Another £200m in additional support for business has already been earmarked in the Final Budget 2021-22.

"Ministers have had a constructive meeting with representatives from the hospitality sector and Welsh Government officials continue to engage with them on options for further support to be put to the new Government following May’s Senedd election.”