The outgoing director of Manx National Heritage (MNH) has stressed the horse tramway’s value to the recovery of the tourist sector in the wake of the pandemic.

Edmund Southworth, who took the job in 2009, expects domestic tourism within the British Isles to ’thrive’ in the next three to five years, fuelled by ongoing concerns and restrictions surrounding Covid-19.

’I think as soon as we can safely open our borders we will see a significant number of people coming here’, he said.

He is also confident that the island has a unique appeal which other destinations cannot offer, explaining: ’The future of the island I think is in special interest tourism, not bucket and spade, it’s not donkeys on the beach; it’s people coming for a particular reason.

’There’s no doubt we have a very rich heritage, whether it’s in motorcycling, whether it’s in railways, trams, horse trams or castles, this heritage is what brings people.’

There has long been debate over the importance of the horse tramway to the island, however, Mr Southworth is unequivocal in his opinion: ’There’s absolutely no doubt in my mind.

’[MNH] go out off island to trade fairs and we talk to people about why they are booking onto the island.

’Absolutely no doubt that the horse trams is part of that.’

Reflecting on his 12-year MNH career, Mr Southworth said ’putting people first’ was always his priority, explaining: ’Whether it’s a new toilet for people with disabilities at the Manx Museum, child-friendly exhibits at Rushen Abbey, or a new disabled access at Castle Rushen - if you put people first, then I think you can safely you’ve done the job that the people asked you to do in the first place.’

Asked about regrets, he said he would have ’loved’ to have seen a ’thoroughly deserved’ new visitor centre at the Laxey Wheel, and the restoration of Castle Rushen’s Derby House.

l Culture Vannin has just released a new film about the horse trams. See pages 18 and 19 of this week's Manx Independent for more information.