Island tourism sees 19% increase

Television and press adverts have helped boost visitor numbers

The number of tourists visiting the Isle of Man has risen by 19%, government figures show.

The Department of Tourism and Leisure said visitor numbers have increased from 83,165 in the first quarter of last year to 98,982 this year.

The figures also show 43,169 leisure visitors in paid accommodation, an increase of 6,087 on the 2008 figure.

Martyn Quayle MHK, tourism and leisure minister, said the success was mostly down to a UK advertising campaign.

Television adverts

The £1.1m campaign to get more people to visit the island was launched in October last year and is currently showing again on television.

The government said that the extra visitors represented a £5.2m boost to the economy.

Mr Quayle said: "The Department of Tourism and Leisure remains committed to increasing our positive national identity and diversifying our economy as two of the government's key aims and we will continue to strive to attract more visitors to the Isle of Man."

Despite an increase in travel to the Isle of Man, the figures show resident travel fell by 13%.