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Who Does What ?

What is Isle of Wight Tourism?

Isle of Wight Tourism is the department of Isle of Wight Council that is dedicated to the promotion and development of tourism. It undertakes a range of marketing activities that businesses can take advantage of, both online and in traditional media and publications. It also operates the official Tourist Information Centres on the Island and a Call Centre. It proactively supports quality improvement through business training and advice, and co-ordination of Quality Assurance Schemes. It has also put together the new Tourism Development Plan. It works in close partnership with the Isle of Wight Tourist Board, the private sector, other Council Departments and key agencies on the Island.

So what is the Isle of Wight Tourist Board ?

This is a partnership that has been established on the Island by the Regional Tourist Board, Tourism South East (TSE), to oversee the implementation of strategic plans for the long-term development of tourism. It consists of representatives from TSE, Isle of Wight Council, Chamber of Commerce Tourism and Industry, Ferry Operators, the Isle of Wight Economic Partnership, IOW College/COVE, AONB and the Arts. All these partners will be helping to deliver the main objectives of the Isle of Wight Tourism Development Plan.

What is the Chamber of Commerce, Tourism and Industry (CCTI)?

The Chamber is the private sector led membership body that seeks to represent the interests of all businesses on the island and it can offer a wide range of benefits to individual enterprises. It is developing a geographical branch structure across the Island and it now has a specific Executive dedicated to the tourism sector. It also has a joint membership arrangement with TSE that will enable access to various TSE benefits. Isle of Wight Tourism offers discounts to CCTI members on many of it's services. There are other Tourism Associations on the Island such as the Visitor Attractions (VAAA) and Places of Interest and Leisure Attractions Association (PILAA).

Where is Isle of Wight Tourism based ?

The main office is at Westridge, just outside Ryde. It also operates six Tourist Information Centres (TICs) at Newport, Sandown, Shanklin, Ryde, Cowes and Yarmouth.

What exactly does Isle of Wight Tourism do ?

It operates three main services that provide a range of opportunities and support for tourism businesses :-

• Marketing - Domestic and Overseas Promotional Campaigns that incorporate publications, a website, PR and exhibitions. There is also an extensive research and monitoring service of the economic impact of visitors on the island.
• Information Services - all the official Tourist Information Centres around the Island, a Call Centre at Westridge and a distribution service on the ferries and to accommodation and other outlets on the Island.
• Quality Development - a support service that helps with quality assurance schemes, general and specific training needs and business advice.

Isle of Wight Tourism also maintains a Destination Management System (DMS) that holds information on over 900 tourism related businesses and is used to feed the TICs, Call Centre and website with the most up to date information on places to stay, events, attractions, eating out, local shops and transport 24 hours of the day. During 2006 it is hoped that this same information will be available world-wide on the vistengland.com and visitbritain.com websites and will enable island accommodation operators to engage with on line booking.

• Support Teams - the services are backed by Sales, Production, Finance, Data Management and Administration personnel who are all based at Westridge.

How do I get on the DMS ?

You will need to register with Isle of Wight Tourism. This is FREE to all operators but if you are an accommodation provider you will need to be rated or in the process of being rated by the AA or VisitBritain in order to be eligible. Isle of Wight Tourism will help you through this process, simply contact Jill Harlow on 01983 823099 Ext: 6880. Please click on this link to view Isle of Wight Tourism's terms and conditions of service.