Tourism in the Isle of Man

The tourism industry of the Isle of Man has been an important element in the economy for over a century.

Key for the development of the sector in the Victorian Era was the introduction of ferry connections with steamships between Liverpool and the Isle of Man,[1] the Isle of Man Railway, and the Victoria Pier in Douglas.

Later in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the island was the destination for working-class families, mainly from the north of England and from Ireland.

Today the tourist accommodation sector only accounts for 0.3%[3] of the Gross National Income (GNI), and employed 629 people in 2016.

[4] Despite the historical decline in tourism, many tourists visit the island for the famous TT races (about 45,000 in 2017),[5] and for its rolling countryside and coastline.