A TEN-point plan to get the Island’s beleaguered tourism industry moving again is being presented to government today (Friday).
Island MP Bob Seely has written to tourism minister Nigel Huddleston MP, asking that more be done to help the UK holiday sector, which has been devastated by the coronavirus lockdown.
While recognising what the Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport had done to help so far, Mr Seely said more needed to be done to ensure the UK had a sustainable visitor economy into next year and beyond. 
He said: “Having listened to representations from a wide range of local businesses, I would like to make a number of suggestions for consideration by the government, which I have no doubt will be of a UK-wide relevance.”
He noted the particular difficulties the IW faces and asked for a meeting with the minister, himself and Will Myles, managing director of Visit IW, the Island’s tourism body.
Mr Seely said in the letter: I know the Island Infrastructure Board is currently working with our three cross-Solent operators — in discussion with the Department for Transport — about how our cross-Solent services can be restored to more of a regular across all six routes, with appropriate safety measures in place.


Bob Seely: “This (easier ferry travel) is absolutely essential in enabling our tourism and hospitality sectors to receive visitors – both for day trips and overnight stays.” 

The ten-point plan is
1 Reduce VAT on tourism and hospitality to five per cent for 18 months and cancel VAT liabilities.
2. Additional grants and furlough funding beyond October. Mr Seely says an extended, bespoke package of financial support for this industry is needed, which has regard for the limited trading period which tourism businesses have.
3 Longer payback period for the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) of ten to 15 years and if such a change is made, businesses should then be given the opportunity to re-apply or amend their existing loan arrangements.
4 Allow local authorities to use unspent monies from the Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF) scheme. 
He says he would certainly encourage IW Council to use such funds to provide additional support to the visitor economy.
5. Extend business rates relief by a further six months. 
6. Support for the payment of refunds to customers. 
Such an approach aligns with the message of the industry to “postpone, don’t cancel”.
7 A Regeneration Fund for Tourism.  Given the extent of this year’s trading period which has already been lost, he says government needs to support such attractions in expanding their autumn, winter and spring provision. A government-backed fund to support investment in diversifying their offer would be a significant boost and enabler for such efforts.
8 Flexibilities to trade beyond current restrictions. Currently, many tourism-related businesses (such as holiday parks) are subject to planning conditions which limit their trading period to certain months of the year. 
Similarly, licensing conditions restrict when other premises may be able to serve customers. 
9 Extending the term for existing Business Improvement Districts (BIDs). 
An increasing number of Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) – such as Visit IW – are funded through BIDs. 
10 Reducing the two-metre social distancing rule to one-metre (having regard to recent research funded by the World Health Organisation).
If such a change can be made (but only is safe), the sooner it could be advised the better, simply so businesses can adjust and prepare accordingly.