£50,000 spent on hosting visiting travel journalists

Almost £17K spent on accommodation and £3K spent on souvenirs 

Almost £50,000 of taxpayers’ money has been spent providing an ‘immersive experience of the Isle of Man’ for visiting journalists.

More than 50 members of the British Guild of Travel Writers visited the Island for four days in February.

The Department for Enterprise claims hosting the organisation’s AGM was a ‘strategic move’ and has described the money spent on it as a ‘modest investment’.

Figures released, in response to a Freedom of Information request, show:

• £16,953 was spent on accommodation
• £8,710.36 was spent on a gala dinner at the Villa Marina
• £5,992.30 was spent on tours
• £4,374.68 was spent on travel costs (flights and on-Island travel)
• £4,057 was spent on the ‘Manx Menu Launch’ dinner at Cycle360
• £3,090 was spent on the AGM meeting, tech and lunch
• £2,938.59 was spent on dinners, entertainment, lunch and sustenance
• £2,859.12 was spent on souvenir gifts, books, guides and miscellaneous items

A minimum of 50 articles in national and regional publications are expected to be delivered as a result of the trip.

Ranald Caldwell, Chair of Visit Isle of Man, said: "With a modest investment of approximately £50,000, 97 percent of which was spent with on-Island tourism and hospitality businesses, we anticipate a substantial return on investment exceeding £1 million based on the equivalent advertising spend in previous years.

"Moreover, the potential reach and syndication of articles by the travel writers will further amplify our promotional efforts.

"It is estimated a reach figure of over 125 million will be achieved based on the commissions secured by the writers."

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