Visit Isle of Wight, alongside the Isle of Wight Council, the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce and Visit England, is presenting a series of online sessions to look at how the Island and its all-important tourism businesses can open safely this year.
Similar sessions were held in 2020, ahead of the reopening of tourism last summer. However, unlike in 2020, the easing of lockdown in 2021 is ‘irreversible’ and over 40% of the Island’s adult population has now been vaccinated.
The online information sessions – aimed specifically at the tourism and hospitality sector – will cover the very latest from the UK Government, including details that will be released over the coming weeks ahead of each stage of the lifting of restrictions.
Will Myles, Managing Director at Visit Isle of Wight, says:
“I would urge all of the tourism and hospitality businesses on the Island to join in with these sessions. We have an incredible opportunity to make the most of the re-opening of the Island’s tourism industry and we want to make sure that businesses are aware of what is new and how to keep our visitors – and Islanders – safe”.
Steve and Charlotte Clark of Chale Bay Farm are looking forward to the sessions – and urge other tourism and hospitality businesses to sign up.
Steve says:
“During the COVID Crisis, as owners of two businesses on the Island, one providing holiday letting and the other a marketing and technology consultancy with tourism as a significant focus, we’ve participated in various online video meetings run by the Chamber as well as other sessions including Dave Stewart, and we’ve also been in regular contact with the team at Visit Isle of Wight as well as avid readers of their regular email updates.
“All of the sessions and information have been immensely useful keeping us on the ball as to what support there is for our businesses during the COVID crisis both in terms of best “COVID-Safe” practice and nationwide initiatives like “We’re Good to Go” for when we have been able to open and the support available when we have had to be closed. We’ve also been able to alert other affected businesses including our cleaning and maintenance contractors to support they hadn’t realised they were entitled to.
“Now with re-opening on the horizon these sessions combining Visit Isle of Wight, the Chamber of Commerce and the Council together look to be a great opportunity to keep up to date with latest developments”.
Visit Isle of Wight will be joined by members of the Regulatory Services team at Isle of Wight Council to answer to some of the legal questions businesses may have.
Isle of Wight Council leader, Dave Stewart, says:
“The council is pleased to be working with Visit Isle of Wight to help support the safe reopening of the tourism and hospitality sector. We all want to keep to the dates on the government’s roadmap, but we need to do it safely.
“Our joint actions now and over the next few months will make a big difference to the economic recovery of the Island and the safety of our residents and visitors. It’s important that we all work together and I urge Island businesses to sign up for the webinars”.
Steven Holbrook, CEO of the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, has this message for Chamber of Commerce members:
“The IW Chamber urges our tourism and hospitality members to make the most of the opportunity offered by these valuable and timely sessions. As we move toward unlocking our businesses, the guidance on offer here is very useful to make sure that we are keeping our staff and customers safe and our businesses compliant. We recommend all Island businesses in the tourism and hospitality sectors make the time to attend one of these sessions”.
If sessions are fully booked, further events may be planned, however, if business owners are not able to attend, there will be a recording of each one available online at the Island’s tourism industry website, www.visitwightpro.com.
Sessions:
- Wednesday 24th March | 11:00-12:30: Self Catering Session 1 (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tourism-hospitality-industry-re-opening-engagement-sessions-tickets-144461110069)
- Wednesday 24th March | 15:30-17:00: Self Catering Session 2 (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tourism-hospitality-industry-re-opening-engagement-sessions-tickets-144469495149)
- Friday 26th March | 11:00-12:30: Pubs, Restaurants and Cafes (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tourism-hospitality-industry-re-opening-engagement-sessions-tickets-144470191231)
- Saturday 27th March | 11:00-12:30: Outdoor Attractions (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tourism-hospitality-industry-re-opening-engagement-sessions-tickets-144473075859)
- Saturday 27th March | 13:00-14:30: General (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tourism-hospitality-industry-re-opening-engagement-sessions-tickets-144474032721)
- Monday 29th March | 11:00-12:30: Hotels, Guesthouses and B&Bs Session 1 (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tourism-hospitality-industry-re-opening-engagement-sessions-tickets-144474939433)
- Monday 29th March | 15:30-17:00: Hotels, Guesthouses and B&Bs Session 2 (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tourism-hospitality-industry-re-opening-engagement-sessions-tickets-144475442939)
Nice bit of prioritising there, and I quote:
“what is new and how to keep our visitors – and Islanders – safe”
Surely the Islanders SHOULD come first really. Thank you Mr Myles for that bit of insight into how your mind works.
Even Dave Stewart got it the right way round I quote (again)
“recovery of the Island and the safety of our residents and visitors.”
Residents came first, Well done Dave.
In case any of you haven’t ‘done the maths’; 40% of islanders have had their first vaccinations; there fore; 60% have not had a vaccination, and have no protection at all from Covid; and more than likely at least 60% of tourists are going to be in the same position, too. I honestly can’t see any way that we can avoid another huge surge in number of cases, when the flood gates open more than they already are.
Continue to do the maths and thinking, by the time the tourists are allowed to come here those stats will be totally reversed and the same for the whole country. So fear not and don’t panic.
Non of this matters, because once furlough ends, the universal basic income will kick in, for most people that’s lost their jobs. Then the BIG one, hyperinflation! Governments around the world have been printing money to hold up the economy. Well the bubble is about to burst! So you see know one will be able to go on holiday at all! And all this over a illness that for most is mild and a 99.8% recovery rate! Yes we have all been had!!
I very much agree that this opening up will be disastrous and think it is unavoidable that we will be effected very badly (or infected) once the flood gates open.
Before the comments about tourism being the only income, simply living on the island generates jobs and income. Personally I have spent a fortune this year with builders, electricians, plumbers, gardeners, furniture shops etc. all of which were effected by Covid restrictions and will be again if we go into another lockdown. Tourism is important for short term nil hour contract work but much of the tourist profits do not go back into the islands true economy.
Does this apply to those that rent their houses or flats to tourists, too..?
Houses or flats are for living in, not keeping empty for most of the year then generating a second income for the owners for a few months.
AirBnB don’t need to be invited they have there own way of ignoring lockdowns, just keep the bookings rolling in.