As circumstances change regarding Covid advice I thought this week I would take a look at some aspects of the post-pandemic World.

Clearly we will need to adapt certain aspects of life as we move forward.

To date, other than the well-publicised Steam Packet and government ’misunderstanding’, the borders policy has been a vital component.

At some time things had to move forward and the plans for this have been announced, obviously subject to continuing improvement.

One of the essential ingredients now is the vaccination programme and I am very grateful to all the frontline health care staff who have put community before self throughout - a view I am sure will be shared by many.

The cancellation and restriction of so much that we take for granted will hopefully make us appreciate the return of things we have missed.

The lockdown for many, unable to carry on with normal life, has provided the opportunity to view our lovely island and all it has to offer up close.

Businesses were forced to adapt and look at new ways of undertaking their enterprise on a day-to-day basis, others were closed down and had some government support throughout. Fortunately, our reserves were able to cater for this - a situation that would not have always been possible.

Particularly affected were the hospitality sector, encompassing hotels, restaurants, pubs and other elements, ’non-essential’ retail, lifestyle businesses, entertainment and more.

I had a little experience of the detrimental effect the cancellation of so much we take for granted can have on such businesses previously.

I was Minister for Tourism in 2001, the year of the foot and mouth outbreak. Fortunately, it did not physically touch our island but its impact was very clearly felt.

The Chief Minister at the time was Don Gelling and Agriculture Minister Alex Downie.

We had many meetings as to what may or may not be possible but ultimately a decision was taken by the Council of Ministers that in order to protect the disease-free status of the national herd, a cautious approach would be taken.

As the minister responsible for tourism I argued that, with sufficient disinfectant and other measures in place, we could continue with certain major events, particularly the TT, but the decision was taken to cancel.

We developed with Treasury schemes of support for the hospitality sector.

Some businesses had a clear reliance on the event and suffered significant losses.

My chief executive officer at this time was Terry Toohey. We both felt it was inevitable that some people would still wish to travel to the island and we put together with local authorities and others a programme of events during what would have been TT to help entertain those who still travelled.

A number of these have now become annual events, so a little good came out of a difficult situation.

Back to our present situation, not only on the island but throughout the British Isles and further afield, the high street has been severely impacted.

There was already a significant trend due to online retail but the gaps in our main retail sector in Douglas due to multiple stores ceasing to trade are a real cause for concern.

The situation has also impacted a number of established local independent traders, which is sad to see.

The optimism of developers investing in large units over the last few years has backfired with this pandemic.

I am old enough to remember how retail used to be very seasonal. Castle Street in Douglas for example would shut down in the main during the non-tourist season.

I remember Irving’s in Duke Street, a good household and catering store, closing down. It was quite a large space.

A number of local traders got together and took pitches in the premises, which was good for them and for the town centre.

This is part of the site now occupied by Marks and Spencer. Would any of the now-empty stores be able to be used for a collective of smaller ’artisan’-type local businesses?

Clearly the rents would feature in the viability of such enterprises but maybe the landlords would be better with some rent rather than no rent?

Other initiatives could include a more leisure-based experience, which is what people are looking for alongside affordable parking.

It is great to see the Douglas Choral Union in its 125th anniversary year is this week celebrating in Frank Matcham’s masterpiece the Gaiety Theatre with their production of Shrek!

Obviously certain precautions will be in place but when the borders reopen and very welcome visitors return to our island. Will anything additional need to be put in place at the Gaiety and Villa Marina?

I can’t wait to get back to a live music experience in these venues with events put on by a number of enthusiastic musical promotors here.

It’s not always going to be possible or practical to further ventilate older premises.

Social distancing would obviously affect the viability of productions. I have noted in the UK some inside sporting events and entertainment are requiring the continued use of face masks as they seek ways to commercially operate.

We are by nature a ’social’ species, so the difficulties over the past over year in terms of the operation or otherwise of pubs and restaurants where such gatherings add to the quality of life were hard.

It was positive news that they were able to open again and welcome customers eager to return to some kind of normality.

Some of the messaging around public venues still appears confusing but time will improve things.

A number of office workers, in particular if it suits family arrangements, will no doubt seek to continue to work from home.

Indeed, for some businesses this would assist their viability.

However, we could then be faced with a situation of quite large office buildings not being used for their present purpose. Could any be suitable for a new life as residential premises?

In the town centre in particular these would be repurposing brownfield sites rather than further intrusion into the countryside. Is this worthy of consideration?

Since the Department of Tourism became part of the Department of Enterprise - the logic of which I understand and indeed supported - it feels to me tourism has become less important for some.

I think the time to reassess its potential is overdue and the present situation may be be timely.

One of the elements that no longer exists was the special events unit.

The small team there would assist local sporting organisations and others with administration, some financial support and logistics and the volunteers from the organisations could get on with the events.

We have a good sporting infrastructure and are ideally placed to host such events.

As stated in a previous article, one island organisation looking after our footpaths, glens, amenity land and forests could ensure growth, without spoiling them.

The people, you and me!, now own the Steam Packet. Without overdue interference, surely a scheme of special low-cost fares to encourage visitors outside peak periods would pay dividends to our economy?

One controversial subject currently being discussed by our near neighbours would be a Covid vaccination passport. Would you be prepared to have one if it was the key to opening up a clearer path to normality?

David Cretney’s next column is in tomorrow’s Isle of Man Examiner.