PAPER H
Purpose : For Decision
REPORT TO THE EXECUTIVE
Date : 19 NOVEMBER
2002
Proforma : DEVELOPING A
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICY
JOINT REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO HOLDERS FOR TOURISM AND LEISURE AND AGENDA
21 AND COUNTRYSIDE MATTERS
IMPLEMENTATION DATE : 29
NOVEMBER 2002
SUMMARY/PURPOSE
1. Members are asked to consider proposals for developing a
sustainable tourism policy for the Isle of Wight.
CONFIDENTIAL/EXEMPT ITEMS
2. None
BACKGROUND
3. One of the major attractants of visitors to the Island is that it is well regarded as one of the most beautiful places in England. As Members will be aware, over half of the Island is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, 30 miles of coast are designated as Heritage and it has 500 miles of award winning public footpaths and bridleways and 13 award winning beaches.
4. Yet whilst all of these factors
are central to generating the 27 million annual visitors to the Island, so
important to its overall economy, they are also the very things that could be
significantly affected by those that come to enjoy them.
5. It is for these reasons that Isle of Wight Tourism has, in conjunction with the Agenda 21 Officer and many other partners, begun working to develop a policy for sustainable tourism on the Island within the context of an overall Tourism Development Plan.
6. The Government sees Sustainable Tourism as “essential to the long term competitiveness of the tourism industry in England”. It has identified the following key needs in such a policy.
·
Establish
an effective policy framework
·
Maximise
tourism’s potential to benefit local communities
·
Manage
visitor flows
·
Address
the transport issues associated with tourism
·
Address
the planning issues associated with tourism
·
Build
partnerships between public, private and voluntary sections
7. A sustainable tourism forum has been established involving partners from Island 2000, the Rural Development Programme, Chamber of Commerce, a representative from the community forums, Isle of Wight Tourism and Agenda 21. The forum has agreed a vision to “develop and showcase inspirational examples of a kind of tourism” which:-
·
Protects
and enhances the natural and built environment
·
Supports
and expands the local economy and Island culture
·
Improves
residents’ quality of life
·
Strengthens
and diversifies the local skills base
·
Responds
to both traditional and emerging holiday markets
8. One major piece of work that has developed from the forum is the introduction of the Green Island Awards Scheme. It is clear however that if the concept of sustainable tourism is to be fully embraced, then it will be necessary to dedicate some time and financial resource to the production of an appropriate policy.
9. One such vehicle to this end would be to appoint an organisation with an environmental focus to both develop and then raise the funding to deliver the policy. Alternatively it would be necessary to appoint a new officer to undertake the same role. In either instance it would be appropriate for the work to come under the umbrella of that being done by the sustainable tourism forum.
10, In June of this year the Economic Development, Planning,
Tourism and Leisure Services Select Committee received a report from the Island
2000 Trust which set out the Trust’s current role in delivering projects
related to sustainable tourism. It also
argued the case for the Trust being the vehicle to take forward the development
of policy in that area under the direction of Isle of Wight Tourism and through
an appropriate service level agreement.
11. The Select Committee accepted the proposal and resolved to
recommend to the Executive that the necessary funding be identified to develop
and deliver a sustainable tourism policy through a service level agreement with
the Island 2000 Trust.
12. This paper therefore seeks Members’ views on the importance of
sustainable tourism to the Isle of Wight in the most appropriate way of
achieving it.