PAPER C
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING, TOURISM AND LEISURE SERVICES SELECT
COMMITTEE – 8 JANUARY 2004
TOURISM DEVELOPMENT PLAN UPDATE
REPORT OF THE 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 further meeting of the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) themed group
considering the development of tourism was held on 1 December 2003.
This meeting effectively distilled the outcomes of the wider workshop,
held 17 October 2003, into some key actions for the partners in the LSP. These key actions were then recommended to
and accepted by the LSP at its meeting held on 5 December. The actions are reproduced at Annex 1
herewith.
As a point of explanation there remains an explicit action to produce a
Tourism Development Plan, as this work remains ongoing. Many of the other actions listed however would
be included within such a document if it were available. The LSP’s action plan therefore effectively
is the Island’s Tourism Development Plan until the wider more comprehensive
document is produced.
RELEVANT PLANS, POLICIES,
STRATEGIES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Tourism is estimated to be worth £312 million to the Island’s economy
and to support 1 in 3 jobs (directly and indirectly).
In March 2002 Council debated the strategic importance of tourism to the
Island and recognised that tourism was the “Island’s major industry” and is the
future key to prosperity.
Developing Tourism is one of the seven themes of the Community Strategy,
to be achieved through, in the main, the development of a tourism development
plan.
Tourism is encapsulated in the Council’s Corporate Plan Objective of
“encouraging Job creation and economic prosperity”. This identifies that the industry has great potential to expand
on the Island and that the Council seeks to work with partners to “support
development of the Island as one of the UK’s leading tourist and leisure
destinations”.
The recently produced draft Island Cultural Strategy recognised the
importance of the links between cultural services and tourism. One of its six themes relates to the
development of all-year round tourism and part of its overall aim is to use
cultural services to “assist” in underpinning the Island’s tourism industry”.
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
Annex 1 - Island
Futures; Theme 6; Developing Tourism and Leisure; Identified Priorities.
BACKGROUND PAPERS USED IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS REPORT
Discussion Document – Sustainable Tourism Development Plan for the Isle
of Wight.
Contact Point : John Metcalfe, Tel: 823842, email:
[email protected]
JOHN
METCALFE
Head
of Community Development and Tourism
Identified
priorities following the workshop process
Theme 6 Developing
Tourism and Leisure
Theme Champion Simon Dabell
Aims: Objective:
Grow the Value of To extend the length of the
tourist season. Agree common activity
measures and compile a common
Tourism to the Island’s research register. Agree roles and responsibilities of all
sectors in tourism development. Enhance
the
Economy status of tourism within the
Island community
Island Image Define an Island
image and brand to inform all Island marketing and promotional activity. A common brand and image to be agreed by all
partners
Create a Tourism To work with all partners
in the development of a tourism development plan
Development Plan
Island Tourism Products To raise quality standards across the
tourism industry. Maximise the use of
the electronic destination management system.
Increase the awareness of environmental responsibility Islandwide. Improving accessibility across tourism and
related activities by improving approaches to visitor and traffic
management. Closer integration of
events delivery in support of tourism objectives. Review of existing policies, which support the retention of poor
quality accommodation
Infrastructure Upgrade the
infrastructure of the island’s key tourist gateways and towns
Skills and Training Extend the range and scope of
available basic training opportunities including business skills. Implement the Centre for Vocational
Excellence in Hospitality.
Identified
priorities following the workshop process
Theme 6 Developing
Tourism and Leisure contd:
Theme Champion Simon Dabell
Aims: Objective:
Leisure Activity Increase the capacity
of local communities to deliver leisure activity. Organise an annual forum for local cultural groups and
organisations
Cultural Strategy Implementation of the
cultural strategy. Develop and establish
an Island Cultural Forum linking cultural interest groups and key public sector
agencies
Cultural Facilities To maintain and improve
cultural facilities and opportunities.
Prepare an asset register of cultural facilities including a practical
profile and cultural impact analysis.
Development of a new all weather leisure attraction
Island’s Heritage Sustain
and promoting the Island’s environment and heritage. Create a parks and beach management strategy.
Healthy Lifestyle Encourage lifelong
learning, healthy lifestyle and social cohesion. Adoption of an Island play development strategy