LETTERS
From Lyn Blackledge, Ryde:
I read with sadness Visit Isle of Wight invoiced the Waterside Community Trust £800 for the D-bid levy (CP, 13-01-17).
I have watched the process with a heavy heart and now watch as non-payers are threatened with legal action.
Clearly, when Visit Isle of Wight lost £350,000 from its marketing budget it threw hands up in horror and decided to guarantee jobs for the next five years by imposing this levy — a levy that will put some of the small businesses out of business.
I run a network group and this affects some members but there seems to be no rhyme or reason as to who has been invoiced and who hasn’t.
One member provides a fantastic service to parents but clearly doesn’t benefit from tourism and a member of the Visit IW team has even endorsed that but she is still expected to pay.
When Visit IW chief executive David Thornton arrived, he called meetings to listen to Islanders’ ideas but it seems that was just a facade. Having spoken to many experienced business owners who have some brilliant ideas, it seems there are none so deaf as those who won’t hear.
How much did the D-bid process cost? Why were some businesses sent the same information two, three and four times in A4 envelopes with large letter stamps — for the recipients to find there was a tiny piece of paper inside. Then, of course, there was the pile of A4 envelopes that went out with no postage and a public apology telling folk not to collect them (and pay the extra postage) as they would send them out again?
How much did it cost to have a big yellow jigsaw piece created and attached to the front of the Visit IW building — and who knew what it represented?
Making the best use of social media alongside more traditional marketing is a must. Sadly, Visit IW has not brought its digital media skills up to date. I did query this and I was told David had always marketed in the traditional way.
Digital marketing is such a fantastic way to promote our beautiful Island. If others can show off their world, why can’t Visit IW promote our beautiful Island instead of remaining somewhat a secret squirrel.
I have an 'all-you-can-eat’ data plan for £18 per month, which means I live stream the Island most days. With a little out-of-the-box thinking, Visit IW could have had champagne ideas on a beer budget.
Indeed, they could have engaged Islanders — working as a community would have meant our social media performance as shown on Visit England would not have dropped from 18th to 56th place (sad when we have digital media experts). Engage with Islanders — get them onside and you could have a much better result.