PORTLAND is launching a new strategy to encourage more people to visit the island.

Some residents on Portland felt neglected after the launch of a £100,000 marketing campaign that focused on attracting holidaymakers to Weymouth.

Now businesses on Portland are being encouraged to take advantage of a tourism strategy produced by the Portland Community Partnership (PCP).

They want people to come and see the unique attractions the island has to offer from Portland Bill lighthouse and Tout Quarry Sculpture Park to the majestic sweep of Chesil Beach.

They are also keen to showcase the outdoor activities available from watersports at the sailing academy and sea angling to diving and rock-climbing.

The island received worldwide coverage during the Olympics and more recently the storms again brought major media attention and the island hopes to build on that.

PCP is an organisation that works with local, voluntary and statutory authorities to improve the physical and economic conditions on the island. The tourism and visiting strategy is split into three strategic themes, focusing on visitor brand, consistent service quality and sustainable tourism.

Objectives under each theme are attached to a number of action points.

One objective is to develop the ‘Portland product’, with an action proposed to establish a strategically based tourist information point.

The Heights Hotel is currently being considered to act as a host for this information point, and would remain open between 8am and 6pm all year round.

Andy Matthews, chairman of the PCP, said: “The Portland brand is a key element and we have got to do a lot of work around that. It is a lot of disparate things at the moment.”

The tourism and visiting strategy was produced with the intention of allowing organisations on the island to work together and develop common ideas.

Mr Matthews said: “This is being used by several organisations to construct development bids.

“Although it is a working draft, it is still constructive in a way that people can pick bits out of it.”

He added: “It doesn’t matter necessarily who’s doing it, as long as somebody is doing something.”

Some residents in Portland felt neglected after the launch of a £100,000 marketing campaign that focused on attracting holidaymakers to Weymouth.

Mr Matthews said the PCP’s strategy was designed to make it easier to market the whole area.