The Manx Hospitality Partnership's fears come after the closures of two hotels — the Grand Island Hotel, Ramsey, and the Royal Hotel, Port Erin, and news that the Chesterhouse Hotel, Douglas, will be shut until Easter.

The partnership criticised the Department of Tourism and Leisure for its failure in the past to provide the level of support required by the accommodation sector.

The DTL said it was committed to supporting the industry and was carrying out a number of initiatives this year.

MHP policy committee member Nigel Bowrey said he had serious concerns over the future of the industry because of the economic climate.

'Regrettably, government, for too long, has bathed in the glow of the success of the finance sector, to the detriment of the tourism industry which now finds itself considerably disadvantaged,' he said.

'Unfortunately, during the past four years, the industry has not received the level of support and understanding required of the DTL.'

He said the cost of travelling to the Island was still a 'significant obstacle' deterring tourists.

Mr Bowrey said the department was undergoing changes, which he hoped would lead to better communication and more empathy with the industry.

It is working with the DTL to provide support in their shared aim of sustaining the tourism industry and identifying ways of stimulating recovery.

Tourism and Leisure Minister Martyn Quayle said the department's £1.1m television campaign — on screens from last October until March — had raised awareness and perceptions of the Island and had led to an increase in inquiries from holidaymakers.

Other initiatives included developing a new website featuring accommodation for free, new events such as the Isle of Man Chess Congress, and a £7m visitor facility improvement scheme.

Mr Quayle said this year was expected to be 'challenging' for the tourism industry throughout the British Isles because of the UK recession.

But he said: 'Those businesses that remain flexible, are prepared to invest in marketing, training and improved quality will emerge stronger once the UK recession ends.'

He was hopeful research showing UK consumers would not go without a main summer holiday this year would benefit the tourism industry, especially with the depreciation of the value of the pound against the euro making it relatively cheaper to holiday in the British Isles.

But he said people were expected to cut back on additional holidays, which could put the industry under pressure.

Both the MHP and DTL said the winter period was traditionally slow for the accommodation sector but the economic downturn had created the situation in the short term.

Mr Bowrey said there had been a 'marked fall' in the number of visitors this winter but he said the MHP was working with the department to extend the summer tourism season.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?
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YOUR COMMENTS

It's right for MHP to have fears for Manx tourism. For years they and others have complained that the Department of Tourism has concentrated all time and money on 4 weeks of the year to the detriment of the industry's remainining 11 months. Whether that is because of complete ineptitude/cow-towing to the local lobby/... take your pick. But MHP members are not without blame. What, in terms of level of service/value for money, can tourists expect when they arrive in the IOM? Dirty rooms? Inedible food? Filthy tables? Rude and incompetent service personnel? We've heard all these complaints too, and in abundance. Where, for example, are there spa facilities in the IOM as there are in the UK, Ireland and on the Continent? What kind of tourism are the MHP trying to promote anyway? I personally find the Department of Tourism tv campaign a very good thing, but I am concerned about tourists' impressions once they arrive here in reliance on that campaign. Long-weekend tourism could be a very good thing for the Island as a whole and could improvie the Island's image from something more than a motorcycle haven. If quality facilities and services are available here, quality tourism can flourish, regardless of high transportation costs. One can see that in a variety of other countries (been to Switzerland lately?). If anything less than quality tourism is on offer, it can only result in failure. And we will only hear the persistant whinging about transporation costs driving away our camp site and beer tourism.
JC

Tourism?...What tourism? I thought that idea was quashed many years ago
KR

Looking through your website today, I came across this Article for tourism on the Island. I recently priced Ferries and Accomodation for the TT Fortnight. I was astounded by the Rates given for B&B during that period. Ferry price for myself, my wife and Van £410 Accomodation, £100 per night B&B = £1300--------£100 for B&B !!!!!! Thats not even a four star hotel Fuel £100 Already that is £1810 just to get to the Island, not inc spending money I have totalled this up and it comes to £2800 minimum. Still have to put the 3 dogs into the kennels, that is £700 inc Inoculations Total £3500 ouch! That just puts us out of coming to the Island this year,especially with this credit crunch going on, It`s just too expensive now.. What will the future bring for the TT Races! We shall have to wait and see. Ahh well, we will just have to watch it on the TV now.
ROBERT NEILSON, Kirkintilloch, Scotland

Allow me to provide two reasons why tourism is declining - cost of travel and lack of entertainment. Even assuming families where prepared to pay to travel here, unless they came purely for the natural beauty - and there is an abundance of that for sure - what else is there to do? What about the kids? What happens in the evenings? the DTL can spend as many millions as it likes on "Smile of Man" TV adverts, websites and other advertising, but unless the fundamentals are in place the holidaying public will not buy it - especially when they can still travel to Florida or a European destination for less money. Two of us recently travelled to a far European destination , and it cost £425 return for the Gatwick leg, and £152 return for the distant Europe leg - which do you think would be most attractive to the holiday maker, especially with kids? Which destination offers the most? Especially for kids? If "the cost of travel is an obstacle" then do something about it! Introduce some healthy competition. And in the meantime actually build a leisure complex at Summerland instead of talking about it for another three years or more.
AC

The tourist industry has fallen below acceptable standards for many years. I suggest you look to Ireland or Jersey / Guernsey. All have good hotels and bed & breakfasts of ALL standards and prices offering good value with food in clean cheerful surrounding. The cost of travel to the Island is very expensive – especially during race periods. I can fly from East Midlands to Ireland – both north & south for £50.00 return. The ferries to Ireland are also half the price of the I.O.M fares The way visitors are treated during the TT and Grand Prix periods is a disgrace; accommodation is worse than it was in the 1960's and the food when available is (with some exceptions) nowhere near the standards expected in the 21st century. It is no wonder that the visitor numbers are dropping (with the exception of the centenary TT) The Northwest 200 in Northern Ireland in May regularly has visitors in excess of 100,00 – The Northern Ireland and especially Colerain tourist board cannot be more helpful in giving help or booking accommodation for you. I am sorry if this sounds like a "rant" but as someone who has been visiting for over 40 years – both for business and holidays including the race periods I feel that we have been let down – it appears that the Island is only interested in the Finance sector and visitors are an inconvenience. Yes I will be coming over again for the bikes, but PLEASE get your act together and we can come over more often for either weekends or family holidays.
TERRY TOWN

We now live in Australia, but are Manx born, We visit the Isle of Man To see family, who we miss a lot. It is so much easier to fly to the U.K from Australia than it is to get to the Island There are delays, incontinence and it is extremely expensive to get to. no wonder People go to Europe from England, the weather has to be the biggest bonus, its cheaper And there are so many more places to go to. The weather in the Island can be dreadful, And with bad weather there is nothing to do or nowhere to go.
IAN and PAULA

So many seem "so blasé" about the run down of the Island's tourism, there is no doubt over many years it has been allowed to deteriorate seriously. The problem is that as long as this run down of tourism and the closing down of hotel accommodation to be converted too often into apartments means that the Island will suffer in other ways. If tourism is allowed to keep falling at this rate, will there be a demand for the level of travel? such as flights and sailing's? At least with the Grand Island Hotel Ramsey, there seems to be a stipulation that a new Hotel has to be built. So many areas of the UK are claiming the recession is meaning people will holiday more at home, could we even cope now with an increase in new tourists? Also the latest 2009 Tourism Brochure is the smallest I have ever seen, so many of the major Hotels have not even taken listings?
JBS

The forum on tourism is very interesting. As an island that has moved forward and progressed into the Financial Centre as its core industry we must realise that there is no tourism aspect to the island any more. The cost and standards of both travelling to and staying on the island quite simply are atrocious, however in this day and age we are not going to change this. The cost will always be high comapred to low budget airlines who have a far greater market to aim at and can price accordingly. Therefore most sane people will choose a week or fortnights holiday in the sun or snow for a more reasonable price that getting and staying on the island. The island is a beautiful place to live, work and bring up a family, it is not however a cost efficient place to get to in terms of a holiday. You only have to read Robert Neilsons view a bit further down to understand this. We must then move with the times and concentrate on core activities. Spending £1.1m on the advertising campaign over the winter months was downright stupid, at the very least this should have been spent Feb/Mar to get people in the spring/summer. It may have been more prudent to save the £1.1m altogether rather than try and resuscitate an industry that has no chance of revival.
DS

Market forces will always play a significant part in any industry/economy and regrettable as they are, changes will happen. The disappointing theme to all the comments/opinion is that the islands tourism industry as a whole is in decline. Decline in any industry is very negative but should not be seen as all bad. The island has a tourism industry. It's different and smaller than the one many people remember and will take time to change like any other industry. Investing in improving the standard of accommodation over the last three years we have enjoyed a good percentage of repeat bookings for all times of the year and for the main events like the TT and MGP turn down 10 - 15 enquiries a week. It's not all doom and gloom, tourism has a place is our economy it may even become more important as changes in the financial world unfold, the key is to adapt and improve.
ANDY CROSS, Inglewood

I am more than a little concerned with the lack of tourist facilities here. However, I did have to chuckle at Ian and Paula's ' incontinence'.
Sits back and waits for the obvious double enders!
KEVIN, Douglas

Firstly I would like to thank you for having the courage to ask why tourism is falling. I have been coming to the Island with my parents for over 25 years for the TT and Manx GP. We have always rented a cottage and taken the ferry. My husband and I came to the Island for TT week when we got engaged, and we used the "home hospitality scheme". I have to say that we both felt ripped off, paying over £500 to stay in bunk beds in a child's bedroom, with one bathroom between a house full and the owners. The atmosphere was great, but that was down to the visitors. We now have our own family and we simply cannot afford to come to the Island unless we tag along with my parents, who in recent years have been using their caravan as this also saves money. The campsite we use is friendly but the facilities are basic to say the very least. We would love to come and share your beautiful Island with our son for our main summer holidays, however the ferry fare is far too high for the average family and the campsites are too basic. Once there, Manx people hardly make you feel welcome and to be honest we feel unwelcome. The food and activities are sparse, unless you pay through the nose for mediocre food, and can while away hours looking at "museums" in someone's garage or rubbish at "Jurby Junk". There is nothing for young families of any quality, not theme parks, but the only thing you have for young families are the lovely beaches (not enough to entertain for a holiday). The Manx people need to take a hard look at themselves and decide if they actually want to invite tourism in, then if they do, look at the facilities they can offer and price that everyone can afford. People with money will not want to visit an Island where the facilities, food and general welcome is miserable, when they can get to Mauritius, Dubai etc for the same price. If the Island wants tourism, they would be advised to make average families like ours who want beautiful countryside, decent facilities and a warm welcome. To be honest we feel that our family comes back because it's a tradition, rather than actually wanting to visit which is a huge shame after 3 generations of Island visiting. I sincerely hope the Island decides to take people's views on board.
TOWN-SMITH FAMILY