THOUSANDS of jobs could be lost and businesses could be forced into bankruptcy if attractions aren't allowed to reopen soon, a tourism expert has warned.

Jim Jones, CEO of North Wales Tourism, has called for urgent support from the Welsh Government for the region's tourism sector.

Among other things he has called for all restaurants, pubs, cafes and indoor attractions to be allowed to open no later than July 19 and for the two metre social distancing rule to reduced to one metre in line with England.

Mr Jones said: "Its stark reality that many businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector have taken no revenue since last October.

"Many have been forced to take on huge loans that must be repaid, so to those few that have been fortunate to be able to open this week, it is welcome and a relief.

"It’s also recognised the significant amount of work our businesses have been doing for some time to make their workplaces safe.

"However, like many other businesses in the sector, especially indoor attractions, restaurants, pubs and cafes, the feeling is one of despair and frustration, even more so now that England have opened up their hospitality sector.

"For us in North Wales the situation is particularly apparent, especially now we have lifted the '5-mile-stay-local' rule.

"For example, we can now visit Chester for a meal and a drink, yet our own hospitality sector still don’t know when they will be given this opportunity to salvage what’s left of the season."

Joe Bickerton, tourism manager at Wrexham Council, said: "Tourism is one of the top three drivers for our economy. "It is worth £130 million for Wrexham and it employs 1,600 full time jobs. "There have been very strong concerns put forward to us.

"The key thing over the next month will be getting clarity for the pubs, restaurants, bars and indoor attractions to reopen.

"With us seeing progress in England, businesses are eager to reopen once the Welsh Government allows it."

Councillor Terry Evans, Wrexham Council's lead member for economy - economic development and regeneration, said: "Businesses are desperate, they have been hit hard.

“The government grants have been a lifeline but the longer they stay shut, the harder it’s going to be for them.

“If these businesses can’t make a decent living before winter we’re going to see more of them fall.

"I've been in business all my life and I've never seen anything like this."

Jim Jones has also called for a support fund to help those businesses that will end up in financial difficulty through no fault of their own.

On the wider implications of the situation on tourism, he continued: "The Welsh Association of Visitor Attractions (WAVA) have agreed that the health and safety of their staff and local people must come first.

"However, the First Minister’s present ‘blanket ban’ on indoor attractions, and no dates for the hospitality sector being allowed to reopen, will likely lead to over 10,000 jobs being lost, and many indoor Welsh businesses being forced into bankruptcy.

"There is potential for our sector to be decimated so badly it will take years to recover.

"This is about many thousands of people who have poured their heart and soul and everything they own into growing a tourism business that brings them enormous pride and creates jobs, now facing a future in which they have lost everything.

"This is about communities who depend on those businesses facing higher levels of unemployment and inequalities. Some communities who depend almost exclusively from tourism jobs and income including the supply chain may not recover."

Mr Jones said he is also calling for the projection of a positive and confident image of Wales as a safe and welcoming destination - adding: "The anti-visitor rhetoric has been very damaging to our brand."

The Welsh Government has been approached for comment.