At last week’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Cllr Wayne Whittle showered praise on the Destination Management Organisation (DMO), Visit Isle of Wight – the privately-held company that receives half a million pounds a year from the council.
£3m funding over nine years
Readers will remember the DMO was launched in September 2012 by the former administration with the task of boosting the Island’s tourism industry. It was agreed to fund the business for nine years to the tune of £3m, with David Thornton leading the organisation as CEO.
Cllr Whittle said at the meeting last week,
“I would like reassurance that we can continue to provide the same funding for Visit Isle of Wight, because it is essential to the growth of our economy.”
He added,
“We’re in the middle of a turning wheel, commuters might be dropping off, the only way we’re going to subsidise our own domestic travel is through tourism and the growth of such.”
Not a statutory expenditure
In response to Cllr Whittle’s request, leader of the council, Ian Stephens replied,
“There’s a lot of money going in there (£374,000pa), as well as the LSTF (Local Sustainable Transport Funding).
“I’m looking at outcomes and I want to make sure that every penny is worth the penny. We need to maximise everything.
“I take on board that David Thornton has done a very good job and that Islanders and Island business rely a hell of a lot on tourism, but what we need to make sure also, is that we can pay what we can afford.
“Will give utmost support to tourism”
Cllr Stephens went on to add,
“I’d be wrong to sit here and say that another half a million year on year can go to Visit Isle of Wight and the DMO, but what I can say, is that we will give the utmost support to our tourism industry and if we can afford to do things as we can at this present time, then we will continue to do so. Funding for this year and next year is safe.”
He finished by saying, “We might find that they are progressing very well on their own.”
Promoting green tourism
At last night’s Economy and Environment Scrutiny Panel meeting it was confirmed that the LSTF funding allocated to VisitWight was marketing budget to specifically encourage tourists to travel to the Island without their cars.
