MINUTES OF A MEETING  OF THE TOURISM  PARTNERSHIP HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON  12 AUGUST 2003 COMMENCING AT 2.00 PM

 

Present :

 

Isle of Wight Council

 

Mrs  M  A  Jarman  ( Chairman ),  Miss  H  L  Humby,   Mr H  Rees, Mrs S A Smart

 

Island Tourist Industry Association

 

Ms O Glass, Mr D Groocock, Mr L Stritton, Mr R Teasdale Mr C Thie

 

Also in Attendance

 

Cllr J H Fleming – IW Council,  Mrs B E Herbert – Corporate Services, Cllr C Hancock – IW Council, Cllr J Howe – IW Council,  Mr J Metcalfe – Head of Community Development and Tourism, Cllr D G Williams – IW Council

 

Apologies :   

                       

Mr R Colliaire - Tourism South East, Mr D Pettit - Honorary Secretary, Ms J Saville – Wight Link

 

 

 


12.             MINUTES

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 March 2003
 be confirmed.

 

13.             DISCUSSION DOCUMENT – SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT PLAN

 

The Directors were reminded of Theme 6 of the Community Strategy, which related to the development of tourism on the Island.  The main aspiration of the plan focussed on the Isle of Wight being recognised as a world-class tourism destination, and becoming one of the UK’s leading quality tourist leisure destinations. The Acting Head of Tourism had been tasked to contribute to the creation, review and delivery of a long term Tourism Development Plan, which identified a process for the development of the key issues that needed to be addressed, in order to facilitate this aim.

 

Consideration was given to the Discussion Paper that set out key issues to drive the process, prior to and during the system, of creating a successful sustainable tourism development plan and also the barriers which might prevent its successful delivery: Sustainability; Corporate or Council leadership; Clarification of the roles of the public sector and the private sector, and other agencies; Understanding and acceptance of the importance of tourism by the public and the Council; Council recognition of the importance of tourism for the economy and the provision of quality infrastructure.

The Paper also identified six key issues, following consultation with representatives of the industry and an initial review of visitor research, previous tourism strategies and the Tourism Baseline audit, that needed to be addressed or required immediate attention.

 

·        Sandown Bay Regeneration

·        Training / Skills development

·        Quality

·        Developing and exploiting the VISIT Destination Management System

·        Defining the role of Isle of Wight Tourism

·        Changing people’s perceptions of the Isle of Wight

 

The Chairman of the Council’s Economic Development, Planning, Tourism and Leisure Services Select Committee was present and outlined his views on the proposals.  Discussion ensued on the key elements of the paper.  The Directors requested sight of the Base Line Audit and the Head of Community Development and Tourism agreed to circulate a copy after the meeting.  A number of questions were raised in particular with regard to the proposed timetable for action and how the proposals integrated into the Tourism South East and the sub regional agenda.

 

The Head of Community Development and Tourism advised that it was his intention to take the production of the Tourism Development Plan forward in conjunction with the Local Strategic Partnership.  A workshop session was being planned in October which would bring together all the potential key stakeholders to debate the issues raised in the discussion document and agree a way forward.

 

RESOLVED :

 

            THAT  the proposed action to take the initiative forward be endorsed.

 

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT it be noted that, the next meeting of the Tourism Partnership be scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 30 September 2003 in the Gibraltar Room, Westridge, Ryde.

 

14.             ANY OTHER BUSINESS

 

In response to the request for an update on the appointment of a Head of Tourism Services, the Head of Community Development advised that discussion on that particular issue had been scheduled to take place at a meeting within the Council, arranged for the following day.  Any developments would be reported to a future meeting of the Tourism Partnership.

 

RESOLVED :

 

            THAT the report be noted.

 

PART B

 

EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS

 

The Directors gave consideration as to the need to exclude the public and press for the two confidential papers relating to the review of the Isle of Wight Council’s current agreements and relationships with the Tourist Industry.  The Board agreed that the items did not warrant the exclusion of members of the Isle of Wight Council.

 

 

 

CHAIRMAN