If a vaccine roll out proves a success then the Isle of Man could still have a successful tourist season next year.

Enterprise Minister Laurence Skelly has told the Examiner of his expectation of a gradual recovery for some sectors but the potential for a strong summer.

With the cancellation of TT 2021, Mr Skelly said there could still be a festival of sorts across the island, similar to the one in 2001 when foot and mouth disease led to the event being cancelled.

Mr Skelly said: ’Reflecting back to foot and mouth and what happened there, I think something like 15,000 fans came to the island even though there was no races.

’Subject to vaccines and borders, there could be a number of visitors and bike fans who come to the Isle of Man. It’s very possible, but it is subject to vaccines and borders.’

The Minister also suggested there could be a vaccine requirement for people coming to the island either through a direct rule or through travel companies requiring vaccination as a condition of travel.

’I think a lot of people are moving towards that way of thinking. Again I think that a lot of that will be confidence - will anyone have the confidence to travel really without a vaccine?

’Coming to the Isle of Man would be attractive because we’ve been able to manage the pandemic as well as we have.’

Mr Skelly said he expects the island’s cruise industry to recover, but said this is likely to be ’more gradual’ as the industry generally caters for people who could be considered more at risk and the issues surrounding cruise ships themselves being susceptible to the spread of disease which could affect confidence in them.