This just in from the office of Keith Taylor, in their own words. Ed
Keith Taylor, the Green MEP for South East England is on the Isle of Wight today to meet key players in eco-tourism and visit two award-winning tourism businesses. He’ll also meet with members of the Eco-island initiative which is working to reduce the island’s carbon footprint.
Keith is a member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism and is keen to promote and support green tourism across his South East constituency.
South East big for tourism
The South East has the country’s biggest concentration of tourism businesses.
Tourism is recognised as one of the principal economic drivers in the South East, worth in excess of £13billion per annum to the regional economy and supporting over 300,000 jobs.
Who Keith will meet?
Keith will meet Kate Jackman and David Green from the Eco-Island initiative to find out more about their plans to create the lowest carbon footprint in England by 2020.
Keith will also meet with John Metcalfe, Deputy Director for Economy, Tourism & Leisure and the Isle of Wight council before visiting two tourism businesses on the island.
From Seaview to Shanklin
He will visit the Seaview Wildlife Encounter which won an award for ‘Best Tourism Experience of the Year’ in the Beautiful South Awards for Excellence 2010.
He will be given a tour of the wildlife attraction by the centre’s Director, Lorraine Adams.
Later he will meet Karena Barton, the owner of Bedford Lodge B&B in Shanklin Old Village. This B&B is a member of the National Green Tourism Business Scheme which encourages sustainable tourism that minimises damage to the environment.
Keith says: “I’d like our region to lead the way in sustainable tourism and the Isle of Wight already has a good track record in this area. The Eco Island initiative, for example, shows a real ambition to hugely reduce the island’s carbon footprint offer while offering visitors a fun packed holiday. Tourist destinations should be encouraged to take positive action to reduce their impact on the environment by improving energy and water efficiency, introducing better waste management, using local produce and supporting public transport. This would create an enjoyable experience for visitors and reduce the adverse impact that tourism can have on our environment.”
