Holidays operator Ged Power believes island tourism could be heading for a huge boost once it is safe to open up the borders to let visitors in again.
The chief executive of Isle of Man Golf Holidays says recent ’positive’ publicity about the island and the way it has fought the virus, has helped generate several inquiries a week from would-be visitors who live in the UK.
Mr Power, who was one of the island’s earliest victims of Covid-19 after a skiing trip to France last March, stresses border restrictions must remain in place until the scientists say it is safe. But he believes the island must start thinking ahead and preparing for the day when visitors can once again step on to our shores
And he says the island could reap rewards as he reckons UK holidaymakers will be ’looking closer to home’ in the British Isles with many shunning Europe.
.png?width=209&height=140&crop=209:145,smart&quality=75)
.jpg?width=209&height=140&crop=209:145,smart&quality=75)
Port Erin based Mr Power, who serves on the Visit Isle of Man agency, believes the island should be ready for action and we ’should get serious about our offerings’.
But he said: ’We will need to rebrand. Do people see us as being like that portrayed in a sketch from the (BBC comedy show) Fast Show or do people see us as an island for family holidays? We need to turbo-boost our offerings. In my opinion we need to attract mature people who have money and who will be so looking forward to enjoying themselves post-pandemic.
’This really could be a now or never moment for the island.
’And we should encourage local business people who have a track record for making things happen and who have that entrepreneurial spirit.’
Mr Power, a former police officer, said he is still suffering from the effects of his close encounter with the virus which gave him a cough ’the likes of which I’ve not had before in my life’ and fatigue. Even now nearly a year on from the illness he suffers from problems which he calls a ’legacy of catching the virus.’
He spoke almost exactly a year to the day since he told Isle of Man Newspapers that a 40-strong group of American tourists pulled out of a trip to the Isle of Man because of fears over coronavirus. It was one of the first stories we had run about the virus.
Now he is predicting a great future and says: ’The great British golfer will help bring life to the island’s economy. There are golfers who are desperate to come and play on our eight great courses, to relax with their mates and to bring thousands of pounds to our economy.’