Tourism bosses are aiming for a 66% rise in visitors to the island.

By 2030, they hope to get 500,000 visitors here every year to help boost the island’s economy. In 2018, Visit Isle of Man’s figure stood at 308,000.

We reported the agency's strategy on reaching this number in the Manx Independent (February 27) and went to ask the public for ideas on how to attract attention from the UK and world-wide.

Caitlin Hume, 21, of Peel, said: ’I think people would love to go on yoga retreats here and we need vegetarian and vegan restaurants - I would be their top customer! People go away to Spain and Italy for things like that.

’TT’s great for tourism, but there is probably a lot more that we could do.’

London-based Elizabeth Townsend, 29, grew up here and visits family.

She likes coming home to get ’some fresh air and be by the sea’.

’It’s something I find very helpful for my general wellbeing living as I do in London,’ she said.

’The Isle of Man has amazing food. That’s what I would recommend to people. When it comes to culture, I already live somewhere with a lot of music and theatre.’

She thinks the island needs to ’sort out the promenade works’ as it ’gives a bad first impression’ and should encourage university students to come back by providing opportunities to work at a wellness retreats where they would cook and make things.

Paul and Lisa Evans, 53 and 47, travelled from Swansea to watch their daughter compete in the Netball Europe under-17s Challenge at the weekend. Paul said: ’Events like that get visitors from all over Europe.’

He thinks it would be a good idea for the sport associations of the hosting country to provide visitors with details on where to shop, eat and what to do when staying.

’We’re struggling to find the basics,’ he said. ’Local knowledge is important. It would be a lot easier for us then.’

Lisa said: ’We’ve come over here and haven’t got a clue. We liked the idea of going on a tram, but they are out of season and start in March. It would also be nice to know the hotels that are close to the sports complex.’

Arturo Pajuelo, originally from Barcelona, and Daniela Bragaglia, originally from Brazil, have lived here for a year.

’I didn’t know about the Isle of Man before the jobs,’ said Arturo, 29. ’The summer here is very nice with many festivals and you could find a lot of things to do. In autumn it died down and it’s hard for us to find something to do.’

Daniela, 29, said: ’I’ve been to Peel Castle and got to see more of nature, but I didn’t see much information about historical views, so I didn’t get so into the landmarks.’

Des Brookes, 67, of Douglas said: ’We should be making use of the island’s nature, we could have something like Center Parcs for families.

’Douglas is getting itself all nice along the promenade and they’ve got new hotel investments. There is a blank space where Summerland was. Go and fill it up. We’ve got to keep being progressive otherwise we’re not going to catch up with other places.’

His wife Carole, 66, said travel prices to and from the island during winter are ’reasonable’, but ’hike up as soon as summer comes’.