Why are Rival Islands better than IOW??

PieLander · Joined: 14 Dec 2010 Posts: 11

It seems to me that an island economy, if it is to thrive beyond reliance on benefits and subsidies, needs some distinguishing factors to make it stand out on an international stage. Here are some successful islands, none of which have any inherent advantages over IOW....

Guernsey: international financial services, upscale tourism, low crime
Isle of Man: TT races, unique parliament and language, cats with no tails
Easter Island: massive head statues
Galapagos Islands: diverse natural wildlife with a unique place in scientific history
Falklands: oil and sheep
Jersey: secretive banking, upscale tourism, low crime
Sicily: olive oil and mafia
Alcatraz: somehow their prison seems so much more interesting than IOW’s
Shetlands: knitwear
Malta; international financial services, awarded a medal
All the Caribbean islands; rum, sunshine, calypso music (high crime rates though)
Guam; huge airforce base,
Ibiza; techno techno techno techno

Unless IOW develops some unique characteristics it will be doomed to remain at the bottom of the league table of islands, with Anglesey (dull and Welsh)

Does anyone have any suggestions on what IOW can do to haul itself out of the past, and out of it's lazy dependency on the Overland, and attract young people??

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Wight Portal · Joined: 17 Sep 2009 Posts: 326 Location: Carisbrooke

You're not for real on this either are you?

The Isle of Wight is the home of international yachting, holds several music festivals that cover everything from Jazz to didgeridoo, has one of the lowest crime rates in England, and attracts in the region of 3 million visitors a year spending £371 million.

What's your definition of upscale tourism?

Lillyme · Joined: 08 May 2010 Posts: 23

You can't improve anything over here till the transport/roads/ferries are invested in ~ a bit of healthy competition rather than a monopoly too.

Just look at the repair bill for Ryde pier, you would have thought the owners would have had constant maintenance going on so this current farce could be avoided.I dont envy the daily commuters.

The main thing with the Island is alot of locals don't seem to want any kind of development and the attraction is that its NOT like the mainland. It would have to be IT or finance based to be able to fit in unnoticed

The place will die soon , its already known as Gods Waiting Room ~ or ~ be full of weekend homes and yachties.

Lillyme · Joined: 08 May 2010 Posts: 23

Wight Portal · Joined: 17 Sep 2009 Posts: 326 Location: Carisbrooke

Stuck between a rock and a hard place. Haven't the money to improve the infrastructure can't improve on what we've already got.

What would you suggest we develop and where do we put it? Who has the money to invest?

God's waiting room indeed, but here is no different to anywhere else along the South Coast, from Brighton to Cornwall.
In both of these areas there are hundreds of letting agencies trying to find tenants for the second and third home brigade.

The £371million is what kept the part time seasonal staff on minimum wage for 3 months.

Lillyme · Joined: 08 May 2010 Posts: 23

At least Brighton, Portsmouth, Bournemouth have Universities and youngsters........for now anyway

Wight Portal · Joined: 17 Sep 2009 Posts: 326 Location: Carisbrooke

Yeah but they have as much to do as the youngsters here.

You shop in Portsmouth, so you've seen the kids loitering no different to here except there's more of them.

Lillyme · Joined: 08 May 2010 Posts: 23

Develop?

Education, even a university or farming/food,watersport related - just build on whats most available I guess.

Liz Earle has done OK

Wight Portal · Joined: 17 Sep 2009 Posts: 326 Location: Carisbrooke

Carisbrooke and Sandown High are or were sports academies, who knows with the revamp of schools.

The Isle of Wight College had a sort of University status at one time.

And as for water sports, we've got them coming out of our ears.

You mean Liz Earle the skin care woman?

Basically there's plenty for youngsters here on the Island to do, but they are all tarred with the same brush as the ones that create havoc round Newport library. These are the kids who, don't want to fit in, are too cool for school and want to be adults too soon.

PieLander · Joined: 14 Dec 2010 Posts: 11

This is what I am talking about. Schools and colleges might be important to residents, but they don't genreate income for the economy. Bad transport will discourage visitors, but good transport doesn't actually encourage visitors - it doesn't matter if the busses are regular, cheap and clean with no swearing, if there's nowhere you want to go.

Watersports might be an answer, but I don't know if that can support an economy for 52 weeks a year (it doesn't help if you have a town called Newport which appears to be landlocked.)

I'd heard that petty street crime was a problem on the island

Wight Portal · Joined: 17 Sep 2009 Posts: 326 Location: Carisbrooke

So what you looking at?

Euro Disney Mark 2 or something similar?

We don't have room for that sort of development.

As it happens the UK Sailing Academy in Cowes does business all year round with residential courses for students from all over the world. If you're into water sports the Island caters for it, whether you're a fair weather fan or an ardent salty sea dog.

What is it with you and your crime, first your bike, now what, you're suggesting that we have a Fagin type character on the streets.
You are more likely to become a victim of crime on a day trip to Southampton or Portsmouth than you are spending a fortnight here on the Island.

Oh, and Newport is named because it's a Port at the end of the River Medina that runs into the Solent.

Lillyme · Joined: 08 May 2010 Posts: 23

Dont think theres much street crime.......a definate drug culture though but you get that everywhere nowadays Plus you can have 5 star attractions but whats the point if its a nightmare getting to them?

PS Is there anywhere you can hire or learn to kite surf or water ski ?

Wight Portal · Joined: 17 Sep 2009 Posts: 326 Location: Carisbrooke

Try here:

http://www.headfirstuk.com/watersport.php

PieLander · Joined: 14 Dec 2010 Posts: 11

I am really struggling with the Newport thing.

I was amazed when I first looked at a map to see it landlocked near the middle of the island, and having been on google Earth it does appear little more than a large lock.

I would guess zero contrainer traffic, zero passenger ferries, zero military usage, etc

I though maybe Newport was Caulkhead speak for "no port"

Wight Portal · Joined: 17 Sep 2009 Posts: 326 Location: Carisbrooke

Back in the day, the river Medina was the sole way of getting goods to the Island by barge.

Along the banks towards the Solent was brick and cement works. Now that we rely so much on the internal combustion engine the river is just like a nature reserve.

Here read this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport,_Isle_of_Wight