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NEW ISLAND GUIDES TO COMPETE WITH COUNCIL

By Richard Wright - Friday, May 2, 2008
FINAL plans are being laid to launch rival tourist guides to those produced by the Isle of Wight Council.
Fed up with claimed IW Council tourism “inaction,” the IW Chamber of Commerce, Tourism and Industry is seeking tenders from Island businesses to design and print its own guides.
Chamber chief executive Kevin Smith said: “We, and Island businesses, recognise the urgent need to reinvigorate the tourism industry.
“As announced a few weeks ago, we are keen to work with all partners – including the council — and we still hope the council will join forces with the Island’s tourism businesses to make this happen.
“In the meantime, we are preparing proposals for new marketing initiatives which will be print and web based, and we have invited expressions of interest from Island companies that might want to work with us on this.
“Effective marketing is essential if we are to achieve growth in tourism, and our proposals will be set out in a new business plan which was being presented to the chamber board this week.”
Last week, in a letter widely circulated to businesses, IW Council leader David Pugh and Cabinet member for the economy, planning and property George Brown underlined the authority’s commitment.
The letter, detailing facts and figures about investment, initiatives and visitor numbers, said: “You will have noticed reports in the local media recently suggesting uncertainty about the direction of IW Tourism along with unfounded suggestions that the council has reduced its tourism development and marketing activity.
“We are writing to you, not to enter into that debate but to explain to you as a business person, what we are doing to proactively promote the Island to domestic and international markets.”