Visit Isle of Wight (VIOW) has launched a new industry-wide survey, calling on local businesses to share their views on the current Wight Business Improvement District (BID) and help shape plans for its future as work begins on BID 3.
The Wight BID, established in 2016 and successfully renewed in 2021, has been built on a simple but powerful principle: that businesses working together can create a stronger, more influential voice in shaping the future of the Isle of Wight as a leading visitor destination.
Each year, the Wight BID generates more than £500,000 in levy funding, complemented by an additional £300,000 through strategic partnerships with Red Funnel, Wightlink and Southern Vectis, alongside further income from advertising opportunities. These combined resources support a wide range of destination marketing, business support initiatives and operational delivery led by VIOW.
As BIDs are required to renew their mandate every five years, preparations are now underway for the next renewal ballot, scheduled for October 2026. With a newly elected Board of Directors in place since November 2025 and a new CEO appointed in February 2026, this marks a pivotal moment for the organisation and the wider business community.
VIOW is now inviting all levy-paying and eligible businesses to take part in the survey, which will play a crucial role in informing the development of BID 3. Feedback gathered will directly influence priorities, investment decisions and the overall business plan for the next five-year term.
Dominic Wray, CEO of Visit Isle of Wight, said:
“This is a key moment for our business community. The success of the Wight BID has always been rooted in collaboration, and as we look ahead to BID 3, it’s vital that we hear directly from the businesses it represents. Your feedback will help shape the future direction of investment, ensuring it reflects the needs and ambitions of the Island’s tourism and wider business economy.”
The survey provides an opportunity for businesses to reflect on the impact of the current BID, highlight what is working well, and identify areas where greater support or new initiatives may be needed to drive growth and resilience across the Island’s visitor economy.
All background information, including previous Wight BID progress reports, is available online at visitwightpro.com.
Businesses are encouraged to complete the questionnaire by midday on Monday 15th June.
Visit Isle of Wight is urging all eligible businesses to take a few minutes to have their say and help shape the next chapter of the Wight BID. Wight BID members can access the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WightBID2026
We might get more visitors to the island if they didn’t feel like they have to re-mortgage their houses to just get here (If the ferry they are booked on even runs)
If want more tourists and new business’ the you need to build a tunnel. The money tourists spend on the ferries is Island money going to waste..Hotels suffer, shops suffer, the whole Island suffers… The ferries are strangling the Island. No new companies want to start up or even open up there due to the cost of getting their goods to the Island. Am amazed a tunnel has not yet been built..saving tourists and Islanders time and money.
Can keep ferries going for some commercial goods and sightseeing..but they are pretty bad for main connection, always breaking down, cancellations etc etc…
Build a tunnel, make the Island rich again !
What a load of rubbish.
Unless ferry fares come down and the service provided is
more reliable the economy will shrink.
The island stings holidaymakers and locals
Where else in the country do you have to pay a £2 nightly
parking charge!!
Even the Pompey and the big smoke don’t charge a nightly charge.
SCANDALOUS
Let’s hope all local IW businesses get behind this initiative – the IW economy depends on refreshing its tourism offering. Right now the National media is full of reports about Summer air flights potentially being cancelled or consolidated because of aviation fuel supply and cost problems.
What a super opportunity to promote UK Summer holidays in the Sunshine Isle!
As an Islander in exile in West Sussex, the only advertising I see for the IW is by Wightlink – and yes, I know they don’t have too many fans on this website – but their ads. for the Island pop up regularly on YouTube, which has become a very effective ‘new media’ channel amongst the young.
Remember the old sales edict – You can’t Sell if you don’t Tell !
I know plenty of business owners that are forced to pay the BID Levy, they have no option as it is to all intents and purposes a ‘Tax’, however, there are also a good number of businesses which get exemption from paying the Levy, why? If you are involved in the Tourism industry, in any way, shape or form, no matter how big or small you may be l, why are there exceptions/exemptions?
The Destination BID is outdated and outmoded. It was presented as being a panacea for the Islands Tourism woes and, it turns out, as far as a lot of Companies are concerned, it’s just another cost heaped onto them. It should either be paid by everyone, or, better still, scrapped all together. Visit Isle of Wight are very biased in their promotion of businesses which smacks of nepotism at best, at worst it is outright corrupt. Most businesses advertise and promote themselves but still have to pay this ‘Tax’…
All it does is keep a group of self-servicing individuals in pointless employment.