A national tourism chief has praised the Isle of Wight as one of England’s top destinations.
Victoria Borwick, chair of the VisitEngland advisory board, visited the Island from June 17 to 19, meeting more than 40 businesses during a three-day tour hosted by Visit Isle of Wight.
During the visit, she toured attractions, met industry leaders, and attended a round-table event at Ventnor Arts Club.
Victoria said: "It was a pleasure to visit the Isle of Wight and meet such passionate, welcoming tourism businesses – from attractions and accommodation providers to cultural venues and transport services.
"It’s easy to see why the Isle of Wight is one of England’s leading destinations, with so much for visitors to enjoy and all within easy reach of London."
The trip included stops at the Isle of Wight Festival, where Victoria met organiser John Giddings on the main stage just hours before the event opened.
Other highlights included meeting Benji and Balu, the recently famous animals at Wildheart Animal Sanctuary.
Claire Ford, VisitEngland’s London and South East regional lead, said: "I was very pleased to visit the Isle of Wight and learn about the opportunities and challenges facing tourism businesses.
"The strong leadership from the Visit Isle of Wight LVEP is impressive, driving the Island's visitor economy forward with genuine ambition and collaboration.
"I saw for myself the richness of the Island’s diverse tourism offer and the fantastic welcome visitors receive, as well as the vital role festivals and events play in supporting tourism year-round."
Will Myles, managing director at Visit Isle of Wight, said the visit was an important opportunity to showcase the Island’s tourism sector.
Will said: "I was extremely pleased to welcome Victoria Borwick and Claire Ford to the Island and be in the position to introduce her to the many hard-working businesses that make our Island the best place to visit."
