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FIRMS BACK NEW TOURISM DRIVE

By Richard Wright - Wednesday, March 26, 2008
MORE than 200 businesses are said to be backing the IW Chamber of Commerce, Tourism and Industry’s rival tourism organisation.
The chamber, fed up with what it describes as IW Council inertia, launched its IW Tourism Ltd initiative at an open day.
Delegates to the event at Gurnard Pines Holiday Village were told the industry could afford to wait no longer for the council to take a lead.
The chamber has employed former head of tourism Tim Addison to lead the marketing initiative, which will include a website, including online booking.
Chamber tourism chairman David Groocock said: “The waiting is over. We recognise the need for strategic vision but businesses throughout the Island are asking, ‘What about here and now?’
“Our proposals are the start of a new future for tourism and, of course, the door remains open to the council if it decides to get involved.
“This is the start of something very exciting.”
Mr Addison said the next step was for members to create a new range of tourism products.
He told the conference: “Visitor figures are now static and in some cases, declining. By working together and selling the Island, we can turn this around.”
Tourism was worth about £360 million a year to the Island economy and supported around 30,000 jobs.
Chamber chief executive Kevin Smith said: “Island tourism is now very much on the road again. We all want success for the Island’s tourism industry and everyone in the chamber looks forward to working with our members and partners to make this happen.”