PAPER B

 

                                                                                                              Purpose : For Decision

                        REPORT TO THE CABINET

 

Date :              28 SEPTEMBER 2005

 

Title :               ISLE OF WIGHT TOURISM DEVELOPMENT PLAN – WORKING SMARTER FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

                       

REPORT OF THE CABINET HOLDER FOR ISLAND ECONOMY, REGENERATION, TOURISM AND LEISURE

 

                        IMPLEMENTATION DATE : 10 October 2005

 

 


SUMMARY/PURPOSE

 

1.         The formal approval and adoption of the Isle of Wight Tourism Development Plan.

 

BACKGROUND

 

2.                 The Tourism Development Plan sets out a 2020 vision for tourism on the island which would create a “ high quality, thriving, competitive and sustainable tourism industry…… which generates wealth, promotes environmental quality, enriches the quality of life and brings enjoyment to visitors.“

 

3.                  It identifies the value of tourism to the island’s economy and overall quality of life and then looks forward to the challenges for tourism, key trends and potential growth to 2020. In the key areas of Destination Management, Destination Marketing and Working Smarter the Plan proposes a wide variety of short-term actions within a three year period as well as medium term objectives.

 

4.                  Detailed Action Plans will ensure that, where appropriate, the full resource implications of all actions are identified.

 

STRATEGIC CONTEXT

 

5.                  Within the Regional Tourism Strategy  ‘ Tourism ExSellence’, the Isle of Wight has been designated by Tourism South East as a discrete sub-region. The strategy established broad sub-regional priorities and  the Isle of Wight Tourist Board was created as a sub regional committee replacing the Isle of Wight Tourism Partnership.

 

6.                  The TDP has translated the sub regional priorities into deliverable actions over the period to 2020. These will then be used as guiding principles in the Island Plan/LDF process.

 

7.                  The TDP also takes into account local existing and emerging plans and strategies that will be affected by, or have a direct bearing on, tourism. See Background Papers in paragraph 15.

 

CONSULTATION

 

8.                  The Isle of Wight Tourist Board has been the main sounding board in the creation of the TDP but there has been a wide range of discussions, presentations and consultations on the whole or parts of the Plan with the following bodies :-

 

·        Tourism South East

·        Chamber of Commerce Tourism and Industry – Tourism Executive

·        Wightlink

·        Red Funnel

·        Southern Vectis

·        Sandown Hoteliers Association/Shanklin Hoteliers Association

·        PILAA/VAAA Tourist Attractions Associations

·        Environment Services Departmental Management Team

·        IWC Directors Group

·        IWC Arts Managers

·        Rural Transport Partnership/Community Rail Partnership/Transport Best Value /Cycle Promotions Officer

·        Isle of Wight College/COVE/LSC/Learning Partnership/Job Centre Plus

·        Green Island Project/Island 2000/AONB Management Committee

·        Local Strategic Partnership

·        Informal Executive of previous administration

·        Conservative Group of current administration

 

FINANCIAL/BUDGET IMPLICATIONS

 

9.                  The next stage in the process is to produce a series of Action Plans for each of the short term actions identified in the Destination Management, Destination Marketing and Working Smarter sections. These will identify the lead and supporting agencies, timescale, potential outcome/output and possible costs and financial source.

 

10.             The Action Plans will then be considered in the context of the medium term financial strategy, including resource projections and other service priorities. Hence, with regard to implications for Council resources, these will need to approved at a later date.

 

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

 

11.             The Tourism Development Plan is a discretionary document which, although not a statutory requirement in itself, will assist the Council in delivering – and demonstrating it is delivering continually improving services, consistent with it’s duty under the Local Government Act 1999.

OPTIONS

 

12.             The first option is to adopt the TDP. The Plan is a strategic document that encompasses many different actions that need to be taken by a variety of different agencies. There are a number of these that are directly attributable to the Council particularly with regard to maintenance of infrastructure, the natural environment and public services, planning policy and cultural and leisure development.  There may be various ways in which the proposed outcomes can be achieved in these areas and these will be explored in the construction of the Action Plans.

 

13.             However, the other option is to do nothing and the outcome from that could be:

 

o       Tourism is based on the past where the traditional summer holiday ruled and the island has a high dependence on the coach and school groups market

o       The industry will not tap into relevant growth markets

o       Many jobs will continue to be seasonal and of low quality

o       Some tourism operators will continue to be trapped in a downward spiral unable to invest in quality of facilities or workforce

o       Tourism’s value and contribution to the local economy diminishes in real terms

o       More traffic congestion and negative impact on local communities

o       More harm to the environment and quality of life

o       Loss of higher quality businesses

o       Withdrawal of public sector commitment

 

EVALUATION/RISK MANAGEMENT

 

14.             The monitoring and evaluation of the progress of the Actions and the intended outcomes is described on Pages 69 to 70 of the Plan. It includes major tri-annual reviews of key indicators with subsequent actions then put in place to amend, restore or cancel targets. The appropriate delivery agents of the respective targets will be involved in the evaluation process through the Isle of Wight Tourist Board which is identified as the strategic lead body.

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

The formal approval and adoption of the Isle of Wight Tourism Development Plan

BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

15.             There have a been a wide variety of research papers, studies and plans involved in the creation of the TDP but those used to a material degree are :-

15.1         TSE Strategy “Tourism ExSellence”

15.2         SWT Intelligence Project – The Tourism Company 2003

15.3         Tourism Skills Strategy for IOW and Hampshire - Tourism

      Skills Partnership for IOW and Hampshire

15.4         The Local Transport Plan and 2020 Vision for Transport

15.5         The Unitary Development Plan and emerging Island Plan/

Local   Development Framework

15.6         IWC Corporate Objectives

15.7         The Local Strategic Partnership and Area Investment

      Framework

15.8         Studies on Cowes Waterfront, Sandown Bay Regeneration and

      Ryde Regeneration initiatives

15.9         AONB Management and Rights Of Way Improvement Plan

15.10    IWC Cultural and Arts Strategies

15.11    IOW Branding – Inspire Programme

 

APPENDICES

 

16.             Tourism Development Plan – ‘Working Smarter for a Sustainable Future – The 2020 Vision for Tourism’ – Executive Summary attached. The Full Plan is available electronically by clicking here.

 

 

Contact Point :     Nigel Smith, Head of Tourism Services, ( 823871 email: [email protected]

 

 

 

NIGEL SMITH

Head of Tourism Services

CLLR TIM HUNTER-HENDERSON

Cabinet Member for Island Economy, Regeneration, Tourism and Leisure