| The Isle of Wight is an Island off the | | | | accommodation, and the other 1.2 million were |
| southern English coast, just south of | | | | day visits. To show how many British people |
| Hampshire, between the English Channel and | | | | visited the Island, only 150,000 of the |
| Solent. Isle of Wight Holidays have been | | | | visitors were international. Between 1993 and |
| popular since Victorian times, as the Island | | | | 2000, visits have increased by 3% each year |
| is known for its natural beauty and home to | | | | on average. |
| the Royal Yacht Squadron at Cowes. | | | | |
| | | | At the turn of the nineteenth century the |
| The Isle of Wight has a rich history that | | | | Island had ten pleasure piers including two |
| includes a lot of maritime history with boat | | | | at Ryde and a "chain pier" at Seaview. The |
| building and sail making, space history with | | | | Victoria Pier in Cowes succeeded the earlier |
| launches of Black arrow and Black Knight | | | | Royal Pier but was itself removed in 1960. |
| space rockets. Events such as the Bestival | | | | The piers at Ryde, Seaview, Sandown, Shanklin |
| are held on the Islands, and the world famous | | | | and Ventnor originally served a coastal |
| Isle of Wight festival has been recently | | | | steamer service that operated from Southsea |
| revived. As well as all this, the Isle of | | | | on the mainland. The piers at Seaview, |
| Wight is one of the best locations to find | | | | Shanklin, Ventnor and Alum Bay were all |
| dinosaur fossils in Europe. | | | | destroyed by storms during the last century. |
| | | | Today only the railway pier at Ryde and the |
| The heritage and history of the Island is a | | | | piers at Sandown, Totland Bay and Yarmouth |
| major asset which has kept the economy of the | | | | survive. They also have Blackgang Chine, |
| island going for many years. Isle of Wight | | | | which is believed to be the oldest theme park |
| Holidays tend to focus on the natural | | | | in the UK, if not the world. |
| heritage of the Island, including both | | | | |
| wildlife and geology which is an alternative | | | | As well as more traditional tourist |
| to the typical traditional seaside resort | | | | attractions, the Island is often host to |
| holiday. Due to the increased affordability | | | | walking holidays or cycling holidays through |
| of air travel to far away destinations, | | | | the attractive scenery. Almost every town and |
| seaside resort holidays in the UK have been | | | | village on the Island plays host to IOW |
| on a steady decline. | | | | hotels, hostels and camping sites. Out of the |
| | | | peak summer season, the Island is still an |
| Tourism is the largest industry on the | | | | important destination for coach tours from |
| Island, in 1999 the 130,000 residents were | | | | other parts of the United Kingdom and an |
| hosts to the 2.7 million visitors. Out of | | | | annual walking festival has attracted |
| these, 1.5 million stayed overnight in Isle | | | | considerable interest. |
| of Wight hotels and other Isle of Wight | | | | |