Isle of Wight: Holiday Guide
Every year, over 2.7 million people opt to book a ferry ride off the coast of Hampshire to England’s largest island, the Isle of Wight. With glorious, golden beaches, outstanding sailing opportunities and a number of sites of historical importance, the Isle of Wight offers a memorable holiday for all the family, particularly during the summer months when the weather is extremely favourable.
Isle of Wight: Exploring the Island’s Tourism Industry
The IOW also remains a popular destination for day trippers from the English mainland, mainly due to the short ferry crossing and agreeable travel times. However, up to 1.5 million people choose to extend their stay here longer than one night, perhaps a tribute to the IOW’s charms.
For many tourists to the Isle of Wight, it’s the traditional seaside resorts that make a holiday here such a hit with families. One example of the Victorian splendour stereotypical of many of the IOW’s coastal settlements is Ryde.
This laid back town has a population of 30,000 people, making it the island’s most populous town. Perhaps the town’s most famous landmark is Ryde Pier, the fourth largest in the UK, built at the start of the 19th century. Ryde enjoys plenty of cultural offerings, and plays host to five leading festivals throughout the year, including the oldest surviving festival in England, the Ryde Carnival. Other seaside resorts that more than merit a day trip include Shanklin and Cowes.
Aside from sun, sea and sand, the Isle of Wight has become closely associated with the world of popular culture through its musical heritage. The Isle of Wight Festival, which takes place on the outskirts of Newport, attracts up to 60,000 people every year to watch performances from the great and good of music. Artists that have wowed festivalgoers in recent times include Paul McCartney, Neil Young and the Sex Pistols.
However, it’s the IOW’s musical legacy that captures the attention of many visitors to the island, as the infamous 60′s festivals saw the legendary Bob Dylan perform, and it was on the island that the American recorded one of his classic songs, ‘Like a Rolling Stone’. Today, it remains a hub for musical events, with major festivals such as Bestival and the International Jazz Festival focal points on the island’s cultural character.
For the reasons outlined above, the tourism industry is crucial to the success of the island’s economy. In fact, a significant proportion of Isle of Wight jobs are centred around tourism. From the manning of tourist attractions such as the Needles Pleasure Park and the Isle of Wight Pearl, to work in the hospitality and adventure holiday industry, most jobs on this island are linked to tourism in some form.
by harry on January 26th, 2011 Tags: Adventure holidays, European travel, island holidays, Isle of Wight, tourism, UK holidays, vacations
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