PAPER B
Purpose : For Noting
Committee: TOURISM
PARTNERSHIP
Date: 17
JUNE 2003
Title: ISLE
OF WIGHT TOURISM UPDATE
REPORT OF
THE HONORARY SECRETARY
SUMMARY/PURPOSE
To summarise current activity of Isle of Wight
Tourism.
1.
MARKETING, SALES,
MEMBERSHIP & PRODUCTION
Marketing
Image Campaign - An analysis of results to
be reported at meeting on 16 June. The
agenda will also include outline recommendations for 2004 marketing.
DMS – Rachael
Knight appointed Systems Development Officer at IWT. System to be implemented over forthcoming months with going
'live' late September/early October.
Staff familiarisation to take place in July, with formal training to
commence in September. Integra system
to run alongside until end September.
Exhibitions – Partners meeting on 5 June. IWT to make recommendations for 2003/4.
2003 Guide Enquiries – (see item 4 below). £20,000 worth of additional Guide advertising has now been
signed-off. Following discussions with
the chair of ITIA, it has been agreed to defer the Web-based campaign until
late August/early September in order to boost autumn business.
Sales
2004 Guide – sales commenced at Shanklin Hotel on 22 May.
Membership
Current membership = 834.
Participants in AA Deal = 62.
Complaints handled (Since 01.04.03) = 20.
Welcome Pack under revision.
Terms & Conditions - under revision in line with DMS installation.
Trading Standards Workshop –held 15 May for TIC and Call Centre staff on
complaints handling.
Production
Eating
Out Guide- now delivered. From
Monday 26th May IWT will be using a company called Island Leaflet
Services and they will be providing a door-to-door delivery to all Island
households. PR Dept organised Launch of
guide on 6th June at Newport Farmers’ Market, giving away free samples
of local produce to promote guide.
Pub Walks – in progress. Awaiting confirmation of sponsorship deals.
Golf Guide – in production
Islandbreaks Website – New design now completed
and in operation.
Dogs on Beaches – leaflet being reprinted. Sandown, Shanklin, Ryde and
Ventnor beaches achieved Blue Flag status this year.
2.
TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRES
During May, Cowes, Newport, Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin
and Yarmouth were open seven days a week - Ventnor six days a week.
An improvement of 1% on May 2002.
Ryde – Internal work now completed. Islandline kindly allowed their office to be
used at Ryde Esplanade Station whilst refurbishment took place. Councillor Fleming officially opened branch
on 2nd June.
Sandown – external refurbishment now
completed.
Visitor Figures – up on last year over the
Easter holiday weekend.
April figures (comparison 2002) – visitors
up 35%, takings down 8.5% (due to not selling Rock Island tickets this year)
3.
PRESS & PR
Walking Festival – Launch event organized by
Wight Leisure went well. 90% of people
on guided walks traveled to Island especially for the Walking Festival. 5
regional press editors attended Walk the Wight on Sunday 18th. IWT provided accommodation and dinner. Boat Trail launch on 25th May.
Old Gaffers 30 May – regional editors invited
to launch event on 30 May, attended by Peter Harrison, which was a huge success attracting record
numbers
Music Festival –2 week event now taking
place, including Rock Island.
Island Games – coordinating bid presentation for
Guernsey. IWT providing content for
accommodation section of presentation.
Internet – Press & PR revamping the media zone section of new
look www.islandbreaks.co.uk
website.
Journalists’ Visits
-Peter Aengenheister/Bridget
Dakin + Brian -Dennis stayed @ Sandpipers 17/18 May
-Mark Jones - North
Wales Echo 15-19 May Freshwater Bay
-Patrick Thibaut- press
trip from Brussels 20-22 May
-Gerard Albouy - journalist
from Le Monde 26 & 27 May
-Sula Groves – Woman Magazine
August
Media
Enquiries
Dealing with requests for
information, location recce’s, fact finding, organising travel/accommodation
etc
-Terry Firth – BBC
wanted more information for a new series called ‘Doctors & Nurses’, which
was filmed on Island first week June.
-Miranda Genova – Carlton
TV, doing a feature on the Island this summer, gave some ideas and
waiting a response.
-Mally Chung- Making
Waves, filmed at Sandown Bay first week in June.
-Sarah Winter-Being
Victoria
4.
CALL CENTRE &
DISTRIBUTION
Bookings made via Hotline since 1st April = 52, Value of
bookings £13,000.00
2003 Guide Distribution
figures year on year: 2003 = 111,349
(2002 = 123,943) Down by 12,594
5.
GENERAL
Regional Agenda – meeting held Friday 6th June to elect new interim
Tourism Partnership Board and representatives on to Regional Board.
|
RECOMMENDATION
To
note the Report |
Rita Williams, Acting Head of Tourism Services, tel 823870
D
PETTITT
Hon Secretary