That's the dream of George Waft MLC who suggested in Tynwald that a Thomas the Tank Engine theme park would provide an attraction for young children and their families.

Mr Waft insisted the Isle of Man needed to provide something new for young families to do.

He said he was not proposing an Alton Towers or Legoland.

All children, he said, could name Henry, Gordon, James and all of the other characters in Rev W. Awdry's Thomas the Tank Engine books that were set in the fictional island of Sodor based, of course, on the Isle of Man.

He pointed out that Drayton Manor Park, one of the most visited parks in Britain, had recently opened a Thomas Land on a similar theme.

'The Isle of Man needs to position itself so it can compete with others in the same market,' he told Tynwald.

'Initiatives such as this can take many shapes and forms. We don't necessarily need to have what they call the white knuckle rides.'

He said building such a project would stimulate the construction industry at a time of economic downturn.

Mr Waft suggests that entrepreneurs lured here by the government's tax capping policy might wish to 'invest in some family fun'.

Tynwald didn't exactly go loco for the idea but there was still unanimous support for his motion calling for the tourism department to have talks with the private sector and investigate ways of setting up a theme park here.

Tourism Minister Martyn Quayle MHK said he would be happy to support the motion but insisted: 'We have to strike the right balance. We could not have it on too grandiose a scale — we don't have the number of visitors that we once had 30-40 years ago before the advent of cheap package flights to the sunshine.

But he added: 'We are always happy to work with the private sector.'

David Callister MLC said: 'What I'm hearing is that we are giving up on tourism and saying "this is the best we can do".'

He cited a recent visit to Kew Gardens where a treetop walkway had been created. 'It was a tremendous attraction,' he said. 'If we are going to have a theme park we will have to think about location. We would have to do something not available elsewhere in the UK.'

Quintin Gill (Rushen) dismissed most of the suggestions as 'vacuous', saying: 'It's not really taking us further forward.'

It's not the first time that the idea of a theme park has been mooted.
In the early 1960s, TV dealer and Castletown MHK Harold Colebourn came up with a grand plan to create a Disneyland-style theme park at Port Soderick accessed via a chairlift across Douglas harbour.

Tynwald approved funding for the £125,000 Douglas Head chairlift but the scheme became the victim of budget cuts in 1963 and neither it nor the Disneyland-style dream ever became reality.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Send your comments to newsviews@newsiom.co.im

YOUR COMMENTS

Sirs, What doesn't seem to be getting through to the powers that be is that whenever you ask people about coming to the island it's the cost of getting here that is the problem. Nationalise the SteamPacket, run it at a loss if needs be but make it cheap for people to get here all the year round. What about a family ticket - £99 return for a car/motorhome and a family of 4? Much of the money would be made up in taxes when people are paying for goods and services and spending money in local hotels and restaurants. Build a large indoor complex on the Summer Land Site for families with pool, cafe, fast food restaurants, bowling, cinema and ice rink where adults can take their kids in the wet weather. The island's families need something like this too. Places like Onchan Park could be done up and modernised.
MR, Douglas.

As I had said before in previous comments, I do not believe it is an matter of individual tourist attractions, it is a question of whether the Isle of Man wants to remain in the tourist industry in the 21st century. If the answer is yes, than it has to compete in a competitive Europe. It has to provide overall value for money and a key issue is providing affordable means for the "target customers" to get to/from the island and to live day to day while here. I do not believe individual attractions alone are likely to provide a big enough magnet, it's down to government policy and action. Only if the Isle of Man achieves volume increase and economies of scale as has happened in the past can this ever sustainably work, otherwise the downward spiral continues.
RON, Douglas

Or, we could have an MLC & MHK Land, where characters of all shapes and wonderful sizes wonder around a huge castle on a hill and dream up magical ideas, and ways in which they can spend the treasures of the Isle of Man...oh hang on...
MICK, Douglas

If this is the best our politicians can come up with then I fear the island is doomed from a tourism perspective! Great original idea of a Thomas the Tank Engine Theme Park - omg!
NICK, Santon

Is not the whole of the IOM a giant theme park already? Perhaps some enhancement to the general Tourist theme should be considered! But really the cost of getting to and from the island by sea and air Is the real problem along with the recession .When it is cheaper to travel elsewhere ,the tourist chiefs Should see that to increase visitor numbers there must be a reason to travel to the IOM in favour Of other destinations and come up with incentives and special travel discount offers!
MAX CAT

Is George Waft stupid? He has come up with the idea of creating something new for young families to do and then mentioned that Drayton Park had already created a Thomas theme park! Why on earth would families pay hundreds of pounds and spend hours on a boat to visit something similar that they can drive to (probably for a day trip). If a family comes here we already have steam trains, when my children were young we pretended that the steam train was Thomas! Perhaps a Snow dome would be good, for skiing and snow boarding, just a thought!
TK

Further to the suggestion that they build a theme park on the Island. I think firstly they need to sort out the current ways of looking and booking accommodation. I am currently trying to find and book a self catering holiday to the island and I have to say all the websites I have so far found are less than useless. Until it is easy to travel to or from the Island and easy to book, you can spend as much money as you want on theme parks but you need the visitors first. The factor in this is costs to visit Drayton Manor in the UK it costs £25.00 pounds each, to go to one of the Thomas days at one of the steam railways in the uk costs about a tenner. to stay in a holiday cottage in the lake district for a family of for in the holidays costs around £500.00 for a week. To visit the island in October Half term with a car and self cater its 825.00............ A theme park on any scale won't work look at the visitor numbers for all the uk parks all on the decline. The IOM Department of Tourism would be much better trying to maximise the fantastic recourse on the island. And keep developing the niche markets and get there website and the steam-packets sorted to make it easy to visit the island. I know at least 5 families that have been put of by the cost of getting to the island and a theme park won't make any difference. (as a side note I lived on the Isle of Man for 5 years and visit regularly and also work in Tourism in the UK) Regards
MIKE

I suggest the politicians look at what has happened in the UK in recent years regarding theme parks, especially in the north of England. Both Camelot and The American Adventure have closed - the high cost of running them in staff, maintenance, new attractions, etc pushed the entrance price up so nobody could afford to go there. Only the really big sites such as Alton Towers, Chessington, or Thorpe Park can compete and attract families - but they get more through their gates in a day than the IoM gets visitors in a whole year. There's also the high cost and time involved of getting here in the first place. A non-starter me thinks.
STEVE H

Why would the IOM need a theme park when people can't afford to get here? Sort the extortionist Steam Packet Company out and we might encourage a few more people to visit. Why pay £60 as a foot passenger to the IOM when you can get a flight to Europe for £25 (or even less).
IOM LOVER

Please government have a look at the root of the problem, firstly you have no visionaries or entertainment specialists in your so called tourist department. You move MHKs around like chess pieces from department to department without the required skills set for the roles they are appointed to. What you need is dynamic people who have a track record in leisure and tourism at the highest level maybe someone from across if you cant find the skills locally. Just have a look at TT week; have we really become a government that is that arrogant? It thinks it can put on no entertainment and still have the right to visitors' money. If getting to the island is so expensive then at least have great things to do on their arrival. Take a look at us from the seventies to present day, ok we don't have the numbers we use to, however why do you knock entertainment venues down and give the tax payers nothing back in return. We use to have more cinemas and entertainment complexes, White City, Summerland to name a few. Families need entertained, surely when you walk up Strand street it's obvious there is nothing to do, we have a beautiful island that could have entertainment complexes built that take in the fantastic scenery we have. Thomas the Tank nice idea but you need to cater for all age groups, for god's sake have some vision, in this current climate or in any climate it would be nice to put a smile on family faces, and have a venue thats a true day out for locals and visitors alike.
PAUL

On the subject of the cost of getting to and from the Isle of Man, can anyone explain to me how Sail & Rail to Birkenhead and onwards to stoke costs £49.50 return whilst it costs £82 for foot passenger only? This would suggest that either the foot passenger ticket has a massive mark up and is a rip off or the department in charge of pricing is a shambles and have got their prices well and truly wrong!!! Furthermore, a recent return trip to Dubrovnik, flying from Gatwick with BA (not a low cost carrier, British Airways!!!!) was cheaper than the cost of getting a car and 1 person to and from the mainland! And no offence to our fair Isle, but you can be damn sure people would rather go to Dubrovnik than Douglas if the price is cheaper!!
MW

Dear Sir, I have often suggested in my correspondence here that a Theme Park would be an exceptional idea – and I remain convinced that it is with potentially profound benefits for tourism and island generally. But Thomas the Tank Engine? It simply leaves me speechless! The Isle of Man has such a rich and enviable heritage and diverse culture that we should be proud of and showing the world. I think a Viking Theme Park with Viking themes rides would be much more appropriate and beneficial all round, just like Knots Berry Farm in California successfully themes the Wild West. After all - what kids are not captivated by those cool looking Vikings in their horned hats? The fact they never actually wore horned hats is besides the point. The potential is huge. I also believe an Alton Towers level development with hotels on the park would be fully justified. However, as I have said here numerous times, and others reiterate, while extortion and greed – in my opinion – of Steam Packet is in charge it cannot happen. Excursions to the Isle of Man need to be affordable and an enjoyable component of the whole family excursion – currently impossible while the faceless Australian bankers are siphoning off as much cash as they can from their Steam Packet gravy train at the expense of Manx tourism and economy. We know from the dividends they are paying themselves that this is true. Viking Theme park – exceptional – but the government need to reduce ferry costs by 66% - easily achievable by operating its own ferry services from its own harbour facilities. Why not purchase the now defunct Viking from Steam Packet – now that would be appropriate. Steam Packet is a liability of the Isle of Man, not an asset in any way, and needs to be dealt with robustly, especially now the Isle of Man needs to diversify and maximise the value of its rich cultural assets.
AC

I have lived on the IOM now for the past 8 years, I moved to the Island in 2001 and since living here I have found that the main problem seems to be getting on and off the rock (...as they say). I realise it can be very expensive to do this at times throughout the year, but now even my family in Liverpool are suffering as they too find it difficult to come and visit. To express my concerns in more detail - recently I checked out prices for my younger sister, who is engaged and currently has two daughters (one of which is my niece), to come visit. I found that the cheapest way of them doing this, was to book them all in a Campsite for 1 week, the cost of which works out very reasonable, then I went on to the Steam-packet website which to my surprise, turns out to be more expensive - in fact, double the cost of staying on the Campsite for 7 nights!!! As I don't get to see my sister and her family very often (perhaps once a year if that, due to travelling expenses!!!), I am always trying to find cheaper ways and means for them to come visit but not only do we both have the problem of the ridiculously high costs for travelling (even more so now that there is no competition so the steam-packet and aircraft companies can all charge what they like!!!) but even when my family do come visit, there is nothing here for them to do anyway – so yes, I say bring on the idea of a Theme Park!! I also agree with MR and think it is about time the Department of Tourism & Leisure did something about the Summerland site too, which also brings me to say, how long has this site been demolished for now? and yet still nothing is happening with it!!! I actually think it is quite sad that most of my family members and friends think it is cheaper and is more worth their while to go visit a Centre Parks in the UK (which has more than enough entertainment for young visiting families) or maybe even to go abroad, than it is to come to the Isle of Man – something needs to be done and soon!!!
JENNY, Douglas

I have to agree with the majority of others who feel the cost of getting to the Island is the biggest reason why many people choose to go abroad for much the same cost. In the current climate when many people are holidaying at "home" the Tourism Dept should be taking advantage and offering "deals" for families. I spent all of my childhood holidaying on the Island as I have family there and also brought my own children there but the cost is now too dear in this competitive market with package holidays abroad much cheaper.
E.McL

I'll sum this up in 2 words why it will not work , Steam Packet , enough said.
SCOTTYDOGG

Dear Sir, As a frequent visitor to your beautiful Island ( I am visiting next week - I have been coming since 1959 - 50 years this year!) I have to agree with the thoughts of your previous emails and state quite simply that it is the cost of getting to the Island which is the barrier - it is costing me £220 to come across with the car and my son using the cheapest options - the most expensive was £400 - this is totally ridiculous for a sea journey of 3 and a half hours. Sadly what ever you do on the Island - and it is still a beautiful place to visit people will not travel at these excessive fares. Why bother with a Thomas park when you have some of the finest railways in these Islands, market the Island and get the cost of travel there at sensible affordable levels - people will visit, with the credit crunch this year the Island has missed a golden opportunity to attract first time visitors - See you next week!
DAVID ARCHER, Keighley, West Yorks

An Isle of Man Theme Park? Right. Built and Funded by the Sefton Group, staying within a Sefton Owned hotel, paying Steam Packet travel Prices, and on a site which can probably be visited , in its entirety , in a single afternoon. And for a family of 4 to do a weekend break at current prices? No change from £1000. We think too small here in terms of investment and infrastructure, and then wonder why our tourism industry is almost wholly dependant nowadays on the TT. To quote the DTL's own ad campaign: "High prices , poor service , low quality. This is my Isle of Man"
SM

Unfortunately until the Steam-rip-of-Packet adjust the prices we have no chance and as previous people have said we have missed a golden opportunity to boost our tourism industry.Why spend a million pound on advertising our wonderful island when that money could have helprd subsidise fares,assuming the rip of packet would not lower prices,it's not rocket science.WE NEED HELP
ANON

Screw the theme park idea..no doubt it would be a waste of money and a complete eye-sore anyway. What a joke. How about using all this money to restore places the Iron Pier in Ramsey or Port Soderick. Keep the island how it is..there are fewer and fewer beautiful places left like the Isle of Man lately that are unspoilt and as a manxie a theme park is the last thing I want on the island. Just make it less ridiculously expensive to get here and problem solved. Blooming MHKs eh!?...I could do a better job as Tourism Minister and I'm 20. Great comments everybody!
AK, Ramsey.

Top Marks to George Waft MLC for speaking out regarding this matter. The children deserve better along with our Island Visitors. My wife has a group on Facebook named RAMSEY KIDS NEED LAND. This group is for the local authorities to have a place for the local kids to use a piece of land for the purpose of using small motorcycles and quads. This pastime is freely available to people in the Foxdale area and can be expanded to other areas of our Island. This would prove to relieve children from wandering the streets and give them a hobby. It is nice to see a member of the IOM Government sending out a positive approach to Tourism.
ECHO

Agreeing with much of the others responses. A theme park will not save the IOM tourist economy. Why would anyone spend as much as they would need to getting on and off the island before they even get to see the theme park gate, and with as few visitors as we can envisage getting over that hurdle, how can it compete with what is available in the UK?
If I was in the UK trying to justify a holiday on the Isle of Man, the presence of a theme park would not even register. That would be like using the presence of branch of a M&S or Tesco as justification to travel from anywhere to the Isle of Man. Reducing the cost of travel to and from, and reducing journey times to something like 60 or 90 minutes with a private car, and maybe slightly better departure times from the UK and Irish ports would help. If someone is to travel to one of these ports from a home in the South of England or Scotland, do they really want to drive all night to get to port check in for 8am? Or arrive during the early afternoon and hang around until 7pm for the other check in time? I'd go to the Lake District.
SCARLETTE

Manxcat is right, the island is already a theme park - we need to work out how to compete with Centre Parcs Steam Packets 20% profit margin is the problem, this should be no more than 11%
MANX VOTER

Lots of very good ideas amongst these comments If only the DTL Minister would pick some of them up and run with them With the Director of Tourism retiring and no Chief Executive in place now would be the perfect time to reassess the whole structure of tourism marketing and bring in some knowledgeable private sector people (they're much cheaper after all) People involved should be mostly those with a vested interest in its success What vested interest do civil servants have apart from their salary and pension? Apart from a power base what interest do politicians have? DTL is the prime example of institutionalised departmentalism
BL