The government is seeking to create branding for different areas across the island.

The Department for Enterprise, its tourism agency and local commissioners are working to promote the unique identities of the island’s towns and villages.

Work began last month as more than 30 businesses met in Port Erin to discuss the village’s unique attributes and attractions for locals and visitors. This was followed by further meetings in Ramsey and Laxey.

The project aims to publicise the attractions, shops, accommodation and food and drink establishments in each town or village and contribute to development and regeneration works, which the DfE said would be ’enhancing the visitor and resident experience’.

Tim Crookall MLC, member with responsibility for the Business Isle of Man government agency, said the Port Erin meeting ’elicited a very positive response’.

He added: ’This development forms part of our commitment to attract more visitors to our island and support our businesses across all stages of their growth.’

The project will initially cover Port Erin, Laxey, Ramsey, Port St Mary, Peel, Douglas and Castletown, with each area being given training and a ’small marketing budget’ to promote the new ’brand’ once agreed and created.

Once the brand is created, each town and village will have a section on the www.visitisleofman.com website to promote local businesses and events and have a logo to use on social media and websites.

The communities could also have branded bags, travel mugs, keyrings, pens, pin badges and/or develop their own website or social media accounts.

So what is a brand?

In the United States, car number plates tell us something about the state that issued them.

For example, on Florida plates, there is the legend ’Sunshine State’ while Idaho boasts ’Famous Potatoes’.

In England, road signs welcoming motorists into Country Durham tell them that it’s ’The Land of Prince Bishops’, while South Tyneside proclaims it’s ’Catherine Cookson Country’.

For a while, Glasgow announced it was ’smiles better’, while Birmingham said it was ’The Global City With The Local Heart’ and Peterborough was ’A city to surprise and delight you’.

So, can similar slogans be created for towns and villages in the Isle of Man?

In this week's Isle of Man Examiner we came up with some tongue-in-cheek suggestions for towns and villages in the Isle of Man.

Adrian Moore, head of the government agency Business Isle of Man, said: ’The project aims to promote greater movement across the Isle of Man from local residents, and increase visibility of the individual towns to visitors through a co-ordinated branding approach.

’It will run across seven towns around the island, creating unique identities for residents to embrace and share.

’The project aims to increase awareness of the attractions, retailers, accommodation and food and drink establishments within the towns and enhance the visitor experience for locals and visitors alike.’

â?¢ What would be the branding for your village or town? Write to us at [email protected] or Isle of Man Examiner, Peel Road, Douglas, IM1 4ED with your suggestions.