The research is the first in a series of studies commissioned by the Department of Tourism and Leisure to determine the contribution to the Manx economy of the Isle of Man's various motorsport events.

According to the survey, the recently developed Manx Grand Prix classic programme proved popular with fans, with a large number expressing interest in the programme and saying that it was one of the reasons for their visit.

>> Click here to read the report for yourself (.pdf file)

The event's enduring popularity was also shown by the fact that over 70 per cent of visitors have been before and over 50 per cent come every year, giving the event a loyal fan base.

Tourism and Leisure Minister Martyn Quayle MHK said: 'The research has given us a really good insight into the Manx Grand Prix.

'We will now look to work with our partners at the Manx Motor Cycle Club to develop the popular areas of the event so we can encourage more visitors and increase the contribution it makes to the Island's economy.'

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23 November 2009

The survey has revealed this year's Manx Grand Prix attracted 8,915 visitors to the Isle of Man, of which the majority, 8,055, travelled by sea.

Each visitor spent about £551 during a visit lasting an average of 7.3 days, making an overall contribution of £4.9m to the Island's economy.

The study also shows the North West of England provided the highest number of visitors with 1,970, followed by the Midlands (1,592) and the South East (1,354). The highest number of international visitors came from Australia and Germany with 124 and 113 travellers respectively.

To compile the report, a total of 4,537 people were interviewed face-to-face between August 24 and September 8, during this year's Manx Grand Prix.

The interviews took place in the departure lounge and vehicle loading area at the Sea Terminal and in the departure lounge at Ronaldsway Airport.

The survey's results will allow the Department of Tourism and Leisure to work with their various partners in these events to ensure that they can be developed to best meet the requirements of local residents and visitors.

The research programme will be extended to the TT races in 2010 giving a greater understanding of the event and its economic contribution to the Island.

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

YOUR COMMENTS

So to put this in context then, Tony Brown and his cronies take in about £250,000 - £400,000 for their coffers for each motorcyclist killed during TT fortnight, though in a bad year, their take can be as little as £150,000 - £200,000 per coffin. I suppose every little bit helps pay for MHKs' non-contibutory pensions and tax free expenses.
ANGRY MANXMAN

Angry Manxman, please have the respect for those killed in the TT fortnight by getting your facts right. This was about the Manx GP and not the TT. I get so fed up by people like you, I don't like the bikes, but love the atmosphere, and to tell you the truth these two events are the only events I can see on the Island where the spectators and competitors alike look as though they are really having fun and loving every moment of it. Yes there are fatalities and that it's a shame anyone should loose their lives, but it happens all the time with other sports and is widely accepted as part and parcel of the sport itself, so why not with the TT and Manx? Also a quick message to the Government, please leave the Manx GP alone, you lot messed up the TT and turned it into an event ran on the basis of the bottom line, please don't turn the Manx into the same. The reason its so popular is because you have nothing to do with the organisation of it, so please leave it alone to the people who know best and have run the event so fantastically so well in the past.
HAPPY MANXMAN

Hello, HAPPY MANXMAN. I note your precision. However, TT, Manx Grand Prix…where's the difference? They both kill and maim. I think you'll find the numbers killed are, on average, about the same for each fortnight's racing. Do you mean to say they make even more cash out of the TT, or do we run that one at a loss?
ANGRY MANXMAN

These figures are completely meaningless unless they also attempt to calculate the costs associated with these events. Businesses closing down for the fortnight, residents leaving the Island, deliveries ceasing, the cost of staging the event, policing, court time, the lost hours for thousands of residents sat in queues of traffic, Health service costs etc. etc. Or is part of dealing with the reduced revenue from the VAT agreement to stick our heads in the sand and ignore costs because they are too scary and we don't have any answers?
JB @ KM

ANGRY MANXMAN - WHAT A DISRESPECTFUL IGNORANT PERSON, YOU ARE!
KEN W

Typical Government spin I am afraid. What has not been published are the costs to run the event ie policing, DOT overtime and the extra costs to the NHS. Let us have the net worth/cost to the economy instead of selective figures.
GEOFF, Douglas

Please HAPPYMANXMAN, name me some other sporting activities where deaths happen all the time and are widely accepted as part and parcel of the sport itself. Where deaths do take place the event is either cancelled or curtailed and there certainly isn't a lively garlanding ceremony with champagne being squirted everywhere!
GEOFF, Douglas

Hi Geoff, shall I start with Mountain Climbing, which is actually classified as a sport and not a past time. I will admit that I am not sure if the champagne squirting after a good old Mountain climb actually happens, but I can see he odd bottle being opened if a great achievement has been made, much the same as winning a TT or Manx is a great achievement in my eyes and that of many others. On a side note the showering of Champagne did not start as a celebration but started because a rider, who for the life of me I can not remember at the moment, had burned his feet on the exhausts of the machine he was riding, so used the champers to cool his feet off on the podium. I only wish you could see how the many competitors react when they hear of the loss of friends and fellow competitors. It amazed me the respect and feeling of loss they have and goes to show that those that come here are not individuals racing against each other, it's more like a very large family and every loss is widely felt. So please people have a little respect for those that have passed away doing something they love, and have a little respect for those that continue to be apart of the racing family. After witnessing it myself last year I have only great respect for them all, and I think that some on here should really show that same respect.
DUCK

DUCK and others may feel privileged to have known those who died pursuing the sport they loved, though I think its really a little far fetched to say there are other accepted sporting events where deaths amongst competitors occur with the same random, predictable and meaningless frequency as they occur on this little island. Perhaps chain saw jousting or wrestling with salt water crocodiles are sports to you gentlemen? I'm sure you're correct in saying the inevitable deaths are heartfelt by those who survive, but don't you find it just a little odd we're agreed that deaths will be inevitable? Unfortunately those who do die pursuing their five minutes of fame on the podium do not cross a rainbow bridge into Valhalla, surrounded by adoring beserkers. In reality, many of them die spilling their brains against a stone wall and leave behind fatherless children whose pain far outlives your loss of a here today, gone tomorrow sporting hero. I accept that there is no realisti c hope of making you see reality through anything other than rose tinted spectacles, but I do have hopes that a more enlightened future group of politicians will eventually see the twice yearly carnage that presently takes place on this Island for the Carnival of Death it really is. It would be better if KEN W spoke neither of ignorance nor disrespect until he comes to understand the value of human life. Abreaction, Ken? Worried that TT / MGP profits are just blood money that probably don't come close to covering the costs to this community?
ANGRY MANXMAN