Grants for tourism events helped to bring in nearly £4 million in revenue last year.

Rob Callister (Onchan), the Department for Enterprise member responsible for tourism, said: ’In 2017-18 the department spent £365,000 on event support. It estimates this resulted in 10,509 visitors staying an average of 3.8 nights and spending in total £3.8m.’

Mr Callister said every pound spent on direct financial support to event organisers resulted in a return of about £10.93 in visitor spend.

’This economic return is for tourist-related visitor events but excludes motorcycling road-racing events,’ he said. ’Tourism events have both a benefit to the local community and the quality of island life, as well as delivering a significant benefit to our tourist economy.’

Julie Edge (Onchan) followed up by asking him about an EU grant to a project that involved Manx National Heritage.

In 2015, the EU Creative Europe Culture organisation issued a grant of nearly two million euros to the Shetland Amenity Trust for its Follow the Vikings project, to which MNH was linked. It was for a four-year project to celebrate Viking heritage in Europe.

Mrs Edge added: ’Clearly it is a Viking cultural route that might be attractive to bring some more tourists to the island.’ Mr Callister said he would look into the matter and give a response.