Our idyllic town is being torn apart by ‘devastating’ theme park closure – it’s a huge blow & only ‘tip of the iceberg’
RESIDENTS have labelled the sudden closure of an iconic adventure park as “the tip of the iceberg” for Welsh tourism.
Oakwood Theme Park in Pembrokeshire, west Wales, shut its doors for the final time on Tuesday this week.
Its owners have blamed the government’s national insurance and minimum wage hikes, as well as steep energy cost rises.
But locals have pointed to another imminent challenge for the tourism and hospitality industry – the Welsh government’s proposed “tourist tax”.
The new levy, which could be introduced in Wales from 2027, would see visitors to the country paying a £1.25p per night tourism tax when they stay at hotels, B&Bs and self-catered accommodation.
A lower rate of 75p would be charged for hostels and campsites.
The Welsh government insists the money raised would help fund services in tourism hotspots, but critics say it will deter visitors.
And in the towns and villages around the now-closed Oakwood Theme Park this week, locals are convinced the imminent introduction of the new tax will also have been in the attractions’s thoughts when they made their decision.
Kevin Hart, who has been running a bar restaurant and caravan and camping site within walking distance of Oakwood for the past 18 years, is “dreading” the new tax.
Mr Hart, 66, runs the business – The Snooty Fox – with his wife, Debbie, and had been hoping to sell up and retire in a few years. Now he believes that dream is in tatters.
He said: “How am I going to be able to sell up and retire now when the Welsh and national governments are doing their level best to destroy what we’ve spent 18 years building up?
“I employ 10 people here and I’m already having to find extra money to pay for the rises in national insurance and minimum wage, not to mention inflation and energy costs going through the roof.
“And now the Welsh government expects people coming here to pay a tourism tax.
“It will tourism throughout the country.
“I’m certain the pending tourism tax was a factor in Oakwood’s decision to shut.
“The closure is going to hit my business very hard because most of the people staying here spend a day or two there.
“They specifically come to the Snooty Fox because it’s within walking distance of Oakwood.
“They can have an adventure there, then grab a decent meal here, have a drink and get a good night’s sleep.
“But I’m really worried we’ll lose a lot of custom now the place has closed for good.
“There’s plenty of other things to see and do around here, but there’s no denying Oakwood was a massive attraction for people stying with us.”
Mr Hart his “heart goes out” to all the Oakwood staff who now look set to lose their jobs.
“They’re all local people so that too will effect the economy round here,” he said.
“It’s all going to have an effect on us. Oakwood is such a loss to Pembrokeshire. I still can’t believe it’s gone.
“All we can do now is just keep plodding on and hope the Welsh government drops its ridiculous tourism tax idea.”
A ‘REAL BLOW TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND OUR ECONOMY’
Another local, Jenny, 45, said the closure of Oakwood Theme Park was “the tip of the iceberg” for the Welsh tourism and hospitality sector.
She said: “Once this dreaded tourist tax comes in, I don’t think anyone in their right mind will want to come to Wales.
“It’s yet another tax, and at a time when everyone’s already feeling the squeeze caused by every other tax we pay, on top of inflation, soaring energy costs and, if you’re an employer, extra national insurance and another rise in the minimum wage.
“Oakwood going is the tip of the iceberg, I fear. In the years ahead, there’ll be nothing left here.”
And at a pub in nearby Narberth we find Keith, 67, who said: “Oakwood’s closure is real blow to the local community and our economy.
“But when this stupid tourist tax comes in too, there’ll be no need for any tourist attractions because no one will want to come here. It’s absolute madness – economic suicide, even.”
The proposed tourist levy will be charged per person, per night, and will also apply to children.
Welsh Conservatives criticised the proposals, saying ministers should be nurturing the tourism sector, “not hammering it with new taxes”.
The plans require a piece of legislation – which was published on Monday – to be passed by the Welsh Parliament.
If that happens, officials think April 2027 is the earliest date the tax could start.
Also, councils could charge more in future if they go through a consultation process and give 12 months’ notice.
Theme park closures in recent years
Leisure Island Fun Park – Canvey Island, Essex
Leisure Island Fun Park confirmed it would be shutting down after 20 years of operation in February, 2025.
It had undergone a refurbishment in 2021 and has not explained the reason behind its closure.
All of the rides and attractions have since been removed.
In a statement, it thanked the “3,000 staff members” who have worked there in the past two decades.
It added: “It’s so sad we have had to close the park but hopefully we have created loads of memories for the families that visited us.”
Flambards theme park – Cornwall
In November 2024, Flambards theme park in Cornwall also shut its doors.
Having opened in 1976, it became Flambards in 1990 after more rides were added, with the name coming from a popular TV drama.
It was saved from closure in 2012, only for it to close 12 years later.
In a statement, it said that “all possible avenues had been exhausted” in trying to keep it open, but cited rising costs as the issue.
Pleasure Island Family Theme Park – Lincolnshire
Pleasure Island Family Theme Park closed its doors in 2016 after falling visitor numbers.
Its rides and rollercoasters were distributed to various other theme parks across the globe, leaving empty spaces where they once stood.
Since its closure, a number of Urban Explorers have ventured onto the site.
And now, ghostly new images have emerged showing the once bustling tourist hotspot looking derelict nearly a decade after it shut.
Wet n Wild – North Shields
Wet n Wild was shut in September 2018 due to maintenance issues, with its reopening date repeatedly being pushed back.
It had struggled perpetually with visitor numbers.
It was a popular waterpark for families in the north east, however owners Serco were forced to close it down permanently in 2020 after years of financial difficulty.
Not all councils are expected to introduce the visitor levy, but if they did, it would raise an estimated £33m a year.
Stays of more than 31 nights will not be taxed.
Neither will people forced into temporary accommodation or people in homeless hostels have to pay.
The policy was part of the co-operation deal signed between Labour and Plaid Cymru in 2021.
Conservatives have said it will risk jobs in the tourism industry, which employs 159,000 people – nearly 12% of Wales’ workforce.
The Wales Tourism Alliance said Oakwood’s Spain-based owners Aspro’s decision to shut the complex was “disappointing news for Wales tourism and jobs”.
The organisation added that a combination of Welsh Government and UK Government decisions “risk seriously damaging the Welsh tourism and hospitality industry which contributes £3.8bn to the Welsh economy annually”.
The decisions include increasing national insurance, council tax premiums, a 182-day minimum occupancy for holiday lets and proposals for the Welsh tourist tax.
This was echoed by Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire MS Samuel Kurtz, who said that these decisions added up to a “very nervous time”.
He added: “I’ve submitted a Topical Question in the Senedd to ask what support is being made available to staff, and I’ve already spoken to local businesses who are keen to employ those losing their jobs.”
Mr Kurtz added: “This is deeply sad news. Oakwood has held a special place in the hearts of many in Pembrokeshire and from further afield and many happy memories have been made there over the years.
Mid and South Pembrokeshire MP Henry Tufnell described the closure as ‘incredibly disappointing news for Pembrokeshire”.
He added: “My first thoughts are with the staff who have lost their jobs. This will be an extremely difficult time for them, and I urge Aspro Parks to provide as much support as possible.
“Oakwood has been an iconic part of Pembrokeshire’s visitor economy, drawing tourists, creating employment, and contributing to local businesses that have relied on its success.
“Its closure will undoubtedly be felt across the community, and we must now focus on what comes next for the site and the people affected.
“The last thing Pembrokeshire needs is a derelict site that is sat empty for years.”