PAPER D

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING, TOURISM AND LEISURE SERVICES SELECT COMMITTEE - 24 NOVEMBER 2003

TOURISM DEVELOPMENT PLAN - UPDATE

HEAD OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM

REASON FOR SELECT COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

Members wished to see a regular update on progress after they first debated the issue.

ACTION REQUIRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE

To note the progress to date

BACKGROUND

A themed workshop on the “development of tourism” was arranged by the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) on 17^th October 2003.

The workshop asked the participants to evaluate the effectiveness of the actions in the current Community Strategy in developing tourism. It also asked the participants to identify other issues and actions that might be considered in both a revised strategic plan and also a tourism development plan.

There were five major areas for action that were identified by the workshop:-

• The tourism market.

• The product and infrastructure of the Island which supports tourism.

• The link between tourism and leisure activities.

• How tourism is organised on the Island.

• The quality of the tourism product.

A number of specific actions were made under each of these headings and these are still being evaluated for submission back to the LSP on 5^th December. A further meeting of the themed group is planned for 1^st December and it is intended to develop the group’s work to the wider issue of the tourism development plan.

RELEVANT PLANS, POLICIES, STRATEGIES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Theme 6 of the Community Strategy relates to the development of tourism on the Island. Of the ten aspirations listed in the plan, that which aims to, “get the Isle of Wight recognised as a world class tourism destination and appreciated as one of the UK’s leading quality tourist leisure destinations” is perhaps the most significant. The main action to drive the delivery of this theme is the production of a Tourism Development Plan.

The Council aim to “support development of the Island as one of the UK’s leading tourist and leisure destinations”, is set out in its Corporate Plan within the context of the objective to encourage job creation and economic prosperity.

A Best Value Review of Tourism Services was completed in 2002.

CONSULTATION PROCESS

As set out in the report.

FINANCIAL, LEGAL, CRIME AND DISORDER IMPLICATIONS

None for the Council arising out of this report.

APPENDICES ATTACHED

None

BACKGROUND PAPERS USED IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS REPORT

Discussion Document – Sustainable Tourism Development Plan for the Isle of Wight.

Contact Point : John Metcalfe, F 3285 e-mail [email protected]

JOHN METCALFE

Head of Community Development and Tourism