New Weather-Proofing Fund Launched for Tourism Businesses in Wales

Tourism businesses in Wales now have the opportunity to apply for a new Welsh Government fund designed to help mitigate the impact of poor weather on business operations and visitor experiences. The Weather-Proofing Fund offers capital grants of between £5,000 and £20,000, with the aim of improving long-term resilience and supporting year-round tourism.

The grant scheme responds to the reality that Wales’ weather doesn’t always follow seasonal patterns – and for tourism businesses, this can significantly affect trading, footfall, and customer satisfaction. The initiative aligns with the Welsh Government’s Climate Adaptation Strategy and the Business Adaptation Action Plan, which emphasise the need to protect and future-proof businesses in the face of increasing climate volatility.

The funding is available to eligible tourism attraction businesses in Wales who are either already accredited under the VAQAS (Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Service) scheme or are willing to seek accreditation as a condition of the grant. Applicants must be micro, small, or medium-sized enterprises (with fewer than 249 employees), have been trading for at least one year, and operate in a setting where adverse weather directly impacts business performance and visitor experience.

Eligible weather-proofing measures include:

• Projects that reduce the impact of poor weather on business continuity
  
• Improvements that enhance the visitor experience during adverse conditions
  

Key details:

• Capital grants between £5,000 and £20,000
  
• Grant can fund up to 75% of eligible project costs (or £20,000, whichever is lower)
  
• All funded activity must be completed before 31 March 2026
  
• Match funding must come from private sources – other public grants are not eligible
  
• Deadline for applications is 1pm on 22 May 2025
  

This funding represents an opportunity for businesses to strengthen their resilience and take proactive steps towards year-round operation and improved customer satisfaction.

For full guidance and to apply, visit:
VISIT WALES

Applications and required documents must be submitted by email to:
WeatherProofingFund@gov.wales