How Tourism and Industry Shape Life on the Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight’s economy mixes a large tourism sector with smaller industrial activity and an ageing population. The ONS shows the usual resident population rose to around 140,500 in 2021, and there was an increase of 24.7% in people aged 65 years and over. These demographic trends shape demand for services and seasonal work across the island.

Tourism remains pivotal: Visit Isle of Wight figures note that more than 1.96 million visitors came between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023 and tourists spent around £280 million. The visitor economy is estimated to account for about 38% of the island’s overall economy, so changes in ferry fares, reliability and visitor patterns have outsized effects on local firms. While visitor numbers have not fully recovered to 2019 levels, spending per visitor has risen.

Manufacturing has experienced disruption; the Vestas blade factory at Newport employed about 600 workers, but the company warned that up to 300 jobs were at risk when it restructured production. Reuters and the BBC reported that the plant planned to switch to smaller onshore turbine blades and that consultations were under way. If manufacturing roles shrink further, the island’s limited year-round job market could be left more dependent on tourism.

Live events still generate income: accounts show the Isle of Wight Festival made a profit of £3.4m in 2024 despite a fall in attendance. Consequently, the island faces a mixed picture where profitable large events may sit beside fragile manufacturing and transport challenges that policymakers and businesses must manage.