Enjoy the Island but do it responsibly – that’s the message from the Isle of Wight Council’s chief executive to returning tourists.
With the potential easing of lockdown restrictions just under a month away, the hospitality industry is preparing to open for Islanders and those choosing to come on holiday.
However, concerns for the Island’s welfare and the dependence on tourism were raised at Tuesday night’s meeting of the corporate scrutiny committee.
Chief executive of the Isle of Wight Council, John Metcalfe, said it is a dilemma but people would come to the Island anyway, with holiday accommodation reporting bookings for July, August and September and the government indicating sections of the hospitality industry potentially opening sooner than 4th July.
He said:
“We are trying to work out a plan, linked to our local outbreak management plan, where we can balance the needs of one against the other and really think proactively about how we do that.
“A huge amount will be taken from the lessons we have learnt – how to campaign and how we can give the best possible advice to tourism sites, from our regulatory services team – to make sure they are covid secure and covid prepares.”
Mr Metcalfe would also like tourists to download the test and trace app, while adhering to messages of social distancing and personal responsibility to protect the Island’s community. He said:
“People are hearing this nationally but we need to do it on a more local, micro-level as a call to action to say come and enjoy the Isle of Wight but please do it responsibly, with the Island’s safety and community in mind when you do so.”
Leader of the Isle of Wight Council, Cllr Dave Stewart, said if the Island was not careful the summer season would become a second winter season, but the fears of residents are a very real concern. He said:
“We have tried to take a safety-first approach because there are many residents who are still concerned about coming out of their door, and we need to take it into account.
“Tourism and employment on the Isle of Wight are a very significant part of the economy, and people do not want to lose their jobs.
“We are encouraging our business to prepare themselves but not all businesses will be able to trade like they did before.
“We are treading carefully — there is a pressure building from one side, people who can see potential loss if we can not get our tourism businesses alive, but then on the other side is the safety first. I find myself with officer right in the middle, we won’t please everybody but we will try and please as many as we can.”
Under the government’s plan to rebuild, published in May, some accommodation owners will be allowed to open in July so long as they meet the secure COVID-19 guidelines.
Don’t waste your money stay on tthe North Island!
Times of returning ferries should be displayed prominently at all Island entry points
JHVF – perhaps you could look at a ferry company website or app – says the times there.
Holiday makers /selfish second home owners who have blatantly ignored guidelines, sticking to social distancing, what fairytale are you from, I have a better chance of winning the lottery.
Yes we need the money but at what cost, Public health on the Island are already planning for a second spike. We have had the beds from Camphill perhaps we should be opening the gates as an isolation facility!
Sorry to disappoint you but we have had very few holiday makers / second home owners over the last 3 months. People ignoring the social distancing rules are our own island residents who do not give a flying monkeys.
Chris – that’s rubbish, some pubs having “private” lock ins, caravan parks with people staying in them, not homeless or care workers, mainlanders got over here during the lockdown and spread it around, and what’s more they are the rudest most arrogant individuals ever, typical London attitude. No wonder Bob Seely gets on well with them. Now where is my other half a sausage?
Was the chief executive of the Isle of Wight Council one of the Chuckle brothers?
The island businesses need the holiday makers money, sure, but let’s hope that’s all they bring to the island!
Let’s see how the ferries going to cope with only bringing on fewer cars ect ,let’s see what happens when there vehicle ferries breaks down or cancel
I quote “We have tried to take a safety-first approach”
Since when?
Oh yes, the late lockdown
late social distancing
sending people back to care homes with the virus
stopping testing, then restarting but only for NHS staff
NHS App way too late
Track & trace, not that good as 33% of people not contacted
Advisers breaking their own rules
and now they are saying there may be a second wave ! ! !
I see the R rate in the South West is now between .8 and 1.1, and increasing, isn’t that also an area where 2nd homeowners tend to buy up properties, the island is next.