Tourism businesses on the Isle of Wight are being urged to have their say on the WIGHT BID proposal. Ballot papers have been sent out and businesses have four weeks to cast their vote on a proposed five year plan to attract new visitors to the Isle of Wight. The Business Improvement District will be funded by those who benefit from the visitor economy (“levy payers”), who will also govern the process.
If the majority of the votes cast and the majority of the rateable value vote “yes” then all eligible businesses with a rateable value of £3000 or more will be required to pay an annual levy which will contribute to the funding of the BID programme, for a period of five years. Additional funds will be raised through sponsorship and voluntary contributions to fund the administration and management required to deliver the programme.
Kevin Smith, Chief Executive of the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, is urging businesses to have their say and to cast their vote.
“Tourism businesses have an opportunity to have their say on whether or not the Isle of Wight continues to have a marketing budget to promote tourism off the Island. That has to be a good thing from a business perspective. If you don’t vote, you won’t get the opportunity to influence the direction of promotion of tourism. I would encourage everyone who is involved in tourism and growing the economy to have their say on the Wight BID.
“From a tourism perspective the Wight BID is very important. The local authority has had to make some pretty tough decisions and the Wight BID is mechanism to replace to that funding. It’s also an opportunity for industry to have more of a say in the quality of the tourism offer. It’s about promoting the Isle of Wight to potential visitors but I think it’s also about tourism businesses reflecting on what they can do to improve their own offering.
“Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce members tend to be progressive forward thinkers who want to grow the Island’s economy and I would anticipate they will be looking to invest in tourism and invest in promoting the Isle of Wight. I anticipate that the Wight BID will be successful.”
“The Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce very much supports the Wight BID proposal. It will provide on-going marketing and promotional activity for the next five years that will enable the Isle of Wight to encourage and attract more visitors which will help us to grow this very important industry sector of the Island’s economy.”
For frequently asked questions and answers about the WIGHT BID please visit www.isleofwightbid.com
