Climate change has a big impact on tourism, from changes in weather reducing the footfall for outdoor activity attractions impacting revenue, or changes to the physical landscape causing issues with infrastructure and limited access to major tourist villages. These are just some examples of why we need to worry about climate change.

Let’s work together to have cleaner beaches, greener landscapes, and eco-friendly attractions. Plus, by all doing our bit it will attract eco-conscious travellers who want to explore a destination that’s committed to preserving its natural beauty for generations to come.

Our Vision for the future:

At Visit Isle of Wight, sustainability is not just an initiative; it’s a commitment to creating a better future for our Island, our visitors, and our community.

We recognise that the tourism industry plays a vital role in protecting the environment, and we are proud to lead by example in making the Isle of Wight a beacon of sustainability.

Actions we’ve undertaken so far:

2025 actions:

• Renewed Group Travel Guide printed on FSC approved paper
• New Sustainability Executive regularly cycles to work or takes the bus to out of office meetings
• Achieved Green Impact Gold award for the 2^nd consecutive year – applying and aiming for a 3^rd in 2026!
• Visit Isle of Wight Green Tourism Bus pass has saved 243kg CO2
• 42% of staff regularly travel to work via sustainable means (bus or bike)
• All devices (minus fridge) are turned off at night, and only necessary lights are used when office is not full
• Achieved Sustainability Award at Southampton Boat Show
• Invested in reusable equipment for Exhibitions Partnership
• Sustainability Manager is on the Tourism Management Institute sustainability working group
• The Isle of Wight Green Tourism Award has been reviewed to encourage and enable more businesses to celebrate their sustainable practices

2024 actions:

• Taken part in the EU cohort pilot for the Destination Climate Change Champions project produced by The Travel Foundation and Expedia
• Changed suppliers for office supplies to make sure they are responsibly, ethically and sustainably sourced
• Where possible all printed materials are on recycled paper. If this is not possible, all paper is sustainably and responsibly sourced
• 42% of staff regularly travel by bus to the office
• Entered the Green Impact Awards – going for gold for the second year in a row!
• Our MD has committed to reducing his CO2 emissions and purchased a new hybrid car
• From 1 Jan 2024 to 30 Sept 24 out MD saved 506.15 kg’s of CO2 by commuting to the office via bus
• We ensure all electronic devices, and lights, are turned off when they are not needed
• We’ve produced walking and Cycling maps

2023 Actions:

• We moved to a new office which had better green credentials (led lighting, better insulated, better heating system, situated near public transport)
• We travelled 3035 miles in staff cars. This was down 331 on the previous year. This resulted in 0.87 tonnes of CO2  emissions
• Where we can, we use public transport to get to meetings on the mainland
• We offset Co2 for oversees travel (flights) by contributing to Biodiversity projects
• We promote sustainable and active travel to businesses
• We encourage people to use local produce suppliers and actively promote vegan businesses
• We’re using recycled and FSC-certified office paper
• We turn off the lights!

Actions still to take:

Climate Action Plan:

A climate action plan is like a superhero strategy for fighting climate change. It’s a roadmap that outlines steps to cut carbon emissions, promote sustainability, and protect the environment.

For Visit Isle of Wight, our plan will include the impacts on our operations, steps to address those impacts and how we will monitor and report our progress. Not only will it help towards everyone’s efforts in reducing climate change, but this plan could inspire others on their sustainable journey.

We’re working on our plan and hope to finalise it in early 2025.

Business toolkits:

We’re looking to support businesses on their sustainability journey through a range of business toolkits, that will be available from our Visit Wight Pro website. We hope these will be available in the Summer 2025.

How we market the Island as a Sustainable Destination:

At Visit Isle of Wight, sustainability is at the core of everything we do. As the official destination marketing organisation for the Isle of Wight, we are committed to ensuring that our beautiful Island remains a thriving, sustainable destination for generations to come. Our role is not only to promote the Isle of Wight as a world-class visitor destination but to do so in a way that actively reduces our environmental impact, supports the local community, and protects our unique natural heritage.

Here’s how we’re leading the way in sustainable tourism:

1. Promoting Sustainable Travel Options

One of our primary goals is to reduce the carbon footprint of visitors travelling to and around the Isle of Wight.

On the Island, we support sustainable transport initiatives like the Island Line’s trains and Southern Vectis local bus services, which are increasingly adopting electric and hybrid vehicles. As part of our commitment, we are part of the Community Rail Partnership.

We actively encourage visitors to explore the Island using public transport, cycling routes, and walking trails through our marketing campaigns and visitor resources such as our online mapping.

2. Developing Eco-Friendly Standards

Visit Isle of Wight plays a key role in driving sustainability across the hospitality sector. We have developed the ‘Wheel of Approval Award’ and the ‘IOW Green Tourism Award’ to support businesses in being recognised for their environmentally friendly practices and support for active modes of travel, such as cycling. We promote these efforts through our website, social media and newsletters.

3. Supporting Local Producers and Sustainable Dining

Sustainable tourism is not just about travel — it’s also about supporting local economies. Visit Isle of Wight collaborates with local food producers, restaurants, and markets to champion sustainable, locally sourced produce. We actively encourage visitors to choose restaurants and eateries that prioritize seasonal, organic, and low-carbon footprint ingredients.

4. Protecting the Island’s Natural Environment

As custodians of one of the UK’s most biodiverse regions, Visit Isle of Wight is deeply committed to environmental protection. We engage with UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Committee and regularly support initiatives such as ‘Project Seagrass’ through our Walking Festival.

We encourage visitors to engage in wildlife-friendly activities and our campaigns raise awareness about the importance of protecting natural habitats and encourage participation in beach cleans, conservation programmes, and sustainable outdoor activities.

6. Sustainable Events and Festivals

The Isle of Wight is renowned for its vibrant calendar of events and festivals, and Visit Isle of Wight is committed to ensuring that its own events are environmentally responsible.

We manage the Isle of Wight Walking Festival, aimed at showcasing the Island through a series of hosted walks led by local volunteer walk leaders. This showcases the Island, not only as a world-class walking destination but also to support the shoulder seasons and encourage people to visit outside of peak seasons.

7. Partnering for Sustainability

Our sustainability journey would not be possible without the collaboration of local stakeholders, businesses, and community organisations. Visit Isle of Wight is a proud member of several sustainability networks and partnerships, both locally and nationally. We work closely with organisations like Natural Enterprise, the Isle of Wight Council, National Landscapes (formally known as AONB) and the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce.

We are also active participants in national tourism sustainability initiatives, ensuring that our practices meet or exceed industry standards for responsible tourism. By working in unison with our partners, we can amplify the impact of our sustainability efforts and contribute to the long-term resilience of the Island’s tourism industry.