A new visitor charter on how to safely enjoy the Island and its attractions has been launched by the Isle of Wight Council and its partners.
The charter forms part of a continuing campaign to ensure everyone knows how to respect, protect and enjoy the Isle of Wight during the summer months in a ‘Covid-secure’ way.
Developed in partnership with Visit Isle of Wight, the Isle of Wight NHS Trust and the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, it includes guidelines that are simple to follow and promotes good and positive behaviours expected of visitors during their stay.
Tourism is hugely important to the Island, contributing nearly half a billion pounds to the local economy and directly providing employment to 16% of the population.
Council leader, Dave Stewart, said:
“Welcoming back visitors will play a vital role in helping our economy bounce back from the devastating effects of Covid-19 as quickly as possible.
“With many of our tourism-related businesses ‘good to go’, our charter encourages guests to behave responsibly and take good care of our Island while they are here — to respect and protect the Island as they enjoy its unique offer.
“We also hope by having this charter in place, Islanders will feel reassured we are working hard to keep our community safe by containing the virus.
Article continues below this advertisement “It is really important that everyone, visitors and Island residents alike, follows the advice in the charter.
“Together we can help to contain and minimise future outbreaks of the virus on the Island.”
The council is inviting businesses to have created, for free, their own branded version of the visitor charter that can be printed and displayed in their premises. The posters will include:
- a photograph of your choosing that represents your business/venue
- your business name.
Businesses simply need to click on the following link, https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/IWvisitorcharter and follow the instructions to upload a photographic jpeg (.jpg) image in landscape format and a minimum of 2,000 pixels wide. The council will also need your contact information to let you know when your poster is ready and how to download it ready to print and use.
Will Myles, managing director of Visit Isle of Wight, said:
“This is a fantastic example of the Island’s forward thinking and working together to encourage responsible tourism.
“The visitor charter sits perfectly alongside the ‘We’re Good To Go’ mark and I recommend Isle of Wight businesses take advantage of the opportunity to get their own branding on their own visitor charter for free from council.”
Maggie Oldham, Isle of Wight NHS Trust chief executive, said:
“We all have a part to play in keeping ourselves and everyone around us safe so that we can all enjoy our beautiful surroundings.
“Simple measures such as good hand hygiene, keeping a distance from others and face coverings all help to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus and will help to protect our NHS.”
The visitor charter is the latest addition to council’s wider coronavirus toolkit which also includes test and trace guidance for the Island’s tourism sector. For more information, visit www.iwight.com/campaigntoolkits.
If people needs this charter to visit our lovely Island, these rules are commons sense & should be followed anyway.
If they can’t abide by them stay away!
Where are the people who test positive & have to isolate going to stay?
The best way to contain this virus is to restrict visits to essential people & deliveries only as when we were locked down.
As an Island we have the barrier of the Solent to protect us, please use it.
These charter leaflets should be given to every person travelling to the Island. and NOT when they are already here.
Yes the tourist industry needs visitors, but not at the cost of them bringing the virus to the island.
Get that 20 mins test sorted out and test people at their own expense before they arrive on the Island.
Positive and you go back, negative and you can stay.
Simples.
Not convinced they will come! A family I know were coming over for a break – hotel prices was great – ferry price £192!! So they are not coming. If the ferry companies keep this up no charter will be required!
Can’t use the old joke about ‘even Dick Turpin wore a mask’. Because masks are everywhere. And also not included in the £192.
Perhaps Ferry Operators could be persuaded to advertise a large poster or ten onboard?