"A Positive Year For Tourism" — Visit Isle Of Wight Director Hails 2022 Success Amid 2023 Concerns

Monday, 9 January 2023 06:00

By Dominic Kureen @WriteOnDom

Last year was a positive one for tourism, the head of Visit Isle of Wight has revealed amid fears 2023 may be more challenging.

Speaking at an Isle of Wight Council committee meeting last week, the director of the tourism organisation, Will Myles, gave an update to councillors.

Mr Myles said it is forecast 35.1 million tourists will visit the UK from abroad this year — fewer than in 2019, when 40.9 million made the trip.

No data was gathered during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He told the policy and scrutiny committee for neighbourhoods and regeneration the Island usually gets around six per cent of the total number of tourists travelling to the UK.

Mr Myles said:

“While I feel 2023 will be a tough, challenging year for tourism, the actual research is quite positive and buoyant.”

He shared data from Visit Britain, which shows the number of British people enjoying overnight visits is likely to increase, especially between January and March, when 19 per cent more people say they plan to travel.

Meanwhile, the tourism management organisation’s autumn advertisement campaign, asked visitors to ‘say yes to the Isle of Wight’.

In August and September, the adverts were watched 68.5 million times.

The adverts also led to 84,635 clicks for the Visit Isle of Wight website.

Mr Myles said it was positive, but the team was looking at how it could do even better.

Meanwhile, a television advert about the Isle of Wight debuted on Boxing Day.