Holiday parks and more high quality self-catering cottages are needed if the island is to attract more tourists to our shores.

Research commissioned by the Department of Economic Development has shown key opportunities for further development.

It looked at the potential for new and upgraded ’non-serviced’ visitor accommodation - self-catering cottages, tourism apartments, holiday lodges and resorts, campsites, touring caravan provision, glamping and places for youths and groups to stay.

Among the key findings from the research, which was conducted by Hotel Solutions earlier this year, is that there are significant potential markets from the UK and Ireland that would be interested in staying in such accommodation.

It found that the island does not currently have a sufficiently developed accommodation of this type to attract these markets and compete effectively for them.

The island should consider extra high quality, distinctive accommodation to encourage people to make the journey to the Isle of Man, it suggests.

And it says some larger scale developments such as holiday parks need to be considered.

The report identifies three barriers to securing further investment - the cost of getting to the island, the short tourist season and inclement winter weather and ’complex and preventative’ planning and policy restrictions.

It notes: ’There was live interest in two potential schemes of scale - a holiday lodge park at Glen Truan Golf Links, and a mixed forest accommodation development at South Barrule - and confidential interest in at least one potential holiday resort development.'

The report said small-scale schemes are likely to be taken forward by individual site owners and on-island investors but should sites for something of greater scale come forward, off-island investors and operators may be interested.

It adds: ’This was ’soft’ tested with UK and international holiday lodge park, holiday park, caravan site, glamping and youth and group accommodation operators and developers.

’Of the 12 contacted and 10 that responded, nine would consider suitable opportunities on the island.’

Rob Callister MHK, DED’s political member with responsibility for tourism, said: ’The research has shown that the Isle of Man has an opportunity to develop more varied non-serviced accommodation.

’Without intervention to accelerate investment in this area the island could be seen as uncompetitive as a destination.

’However, the Isle of Man is in a strong position as the market opportunity is there and there is developer, operator and investor interest in taking opportunities forward.’

Mr Callister said the independent research shows there are opportunities for increasing the island’s accommodation capacity and growing visitor numbers by developing this type of accommodation.

He said the research has now been presented to political members, officers and the accommodation industry.

Mr Callister (pictured) said the next step would be to work closely with the private sector to develop the findings and come up with recommendations.

He said the aim was to ’create a suitable environment for the growth in the quality and variety of our visitor accommodation and make a real difference to the island’s profile as a holiday and short break destination.’

The island’s tourism director has previously suggested a Center Parcs-style attraction would boost visitor numbers and extend the holiday season. Shortly after he was appointed on a three-year contract in October 2014 Robin Bischert said: ’We have had preliminary discussions with DEFA over a family-orientated activity centre.

’It would put us on the family activities map. It would be good for residents and visitors. To increase the volume of visitors we need to extend the season.’