Tynwald has given its approval to an ‘ambitious but achievable’ 10-year tourism strategy which aims to attract over 500,000 visitors to the island each year.

The ‘Our Island, Our Future: Isle of Man Visitor Economy Strategy 2022-2032’ was put forward by Enterprise Minister Dr Alex Allinson.

Before the pandemic in 2019, the island welcomed almost 330,000 visitors.

The strategy sets out seven ‘action programmes’ to reach this target, which are: ‘Air & Sea Access Improvement, Quality Improvement, Visitor Accommodation Transformation, Visitor Product Development, Events Development, Market Development and Talent Development’.

Among these areas are specific objectives.

These include ‘the development of 500 new and transformed hotel and serviced accommodation bedrooms, and 500 new units of distinctive, contemporary eco-friendly non-serviced (i.e. self-catering) accommodation’.

‘Talent development’ for example involves aiming to fully staff visitor businesses by developing an tourism industry ‘that is seen as offering rewarding employment and an attractive career choice.’

Introducing the strategy in Tynwald, Dr Alex Allinson said that the two years of the pandemic had given time to ‘review the island’s tourism offering and economic position’, and that it was ‘now time to return it to its place as a premier visitor destination’.

He added that improving the quality of the island as a destination would also make it a better place to live for residents.

An annual report on the strategy’s progress would also be required under the approval.