The Daily Express reported a likely boom in domestic UK tourism on 25th March 1985, including a possible million tourists crossing the Solent to holiday on the Isle of Wight.
The newspaper proclaimed:
“The British have rediscovered the delights of Britain – and it points to a first class year for the tourist trade.”
Article continues below this advertisement
The reason provided for a renaissance for domestic resorts was the weak pound that was making the British think twice before venturing on an expensive holiday abroad. Bad publicity about potential violence in Spain also put off the English from holidaying there.
An English Tourist Board spokesperson stated:
“The last two years with their very good summers have got people out and about a lot more and they have rediscovered what Britain has to offer.
“That’s good because we have been working for the last few years to promote and develop – upgrading hotels and providing newer and better attractions.”
The newspaper quoted a further tourism official claiming:
“It’s not so smart to go abroad as it used to be. It’s losing some of it’s grandeur and it’s not as up-market because most people can afford it.”
The previous year, the Isle of Wight had welcomed 250,000 shy of a million holiday makers and was hoping for a 7-figure total in 1985.
An Isle of Wight spokesperson told the Daily Express:
“The number of bookings are a shade up and it may be that some of the overseas holidays are coming to us.
“Some people are being put off by muggings, typhoid and the low value of the pound.”
Fast forward to 2024, and the number of summer visitors to the Isle of Wight in the third quarter of the year was 463,367 as revealed by Island Echo last year.
Back in the glorious heyday, what does the island
have to offer nowdays!!
I can remember Browns boating lake, Ventnor boating
lake, Shanklin and Ventnor piers plus many more
attractions.
Loads of gift shops selling good quality gifts,
the old village was open till late, nowdays there is not
much at the old village.
Tourism is poor on the island, they even sold off the
Dotto trains.
Nowdays Tenerife and Benidorm etc have so much to
offer and it’s cheaper to fly too.
Tourism on the island is a thing of the past.
Jumpers as goal posts, blah, blah, zzzzzzzzzzzz. State the obvious, blah blah, blah zzzzzzzzzz
40 years ago we had loads off tourist attractions,now we have housing and supermarkets everywhere,I certainly wouldn’t pay over the odds to come here, especially sandown
Not to mention the ferry fares.
The Islands number 1 turd town is Sandown,
yet Sandown have the cheek charging people
50p to use toilets.
Sandown is 1 big toilet.
But now, people are afraid to come here, because the place is full of scum being allowed to do as it likes, and attack people
No they’re not. They just go elsewhere. Stop fear mongering
Total dump now full of drugs and scum..
That is true. If I had a pound everytime I smelt
Cannabis I would be a Millionaire by December.
40 years ago, I still was living at home with my parents, and back then they would never go flying off abroad for our holidays, We would always holiday in the UK. OK mostly Blackpool, and not for shops. Mum & Dad perfect holiday was sitting on the beach relaxing.
Now even Blackpool beach’s are a lot more emptier than back then. My nieces and nephew all holiday abroad. That’s how things are now.
My Son still has his holidays here in the UK and loves it.
Much cheaper going abroad, plus more to do
and better weather.