TT and FoM figures positive

[Max Power 4,889]

46 minutes ago, Butterflies said:

Yes, you said. The FoM has always been very quiet in comparison to TT week, it used to be that you would forget it was even on as there were no bikes, no tourists and hence road closures for racing could come as a shock. Not so any more, the bikes are noticeable and there are obviously tourists around. Visitor figures are going up each year, they have doubled since 2009 (from c.8000 to c.16000). Still 30,000 less people that the TT though but moving in the right direction. 

To be fair, even the 8-9000 of the credit crunch and weather hit 2009 event are not to be sneezed at, they still represent a £6m-£7m economic contribution.

[Derek Flint 2,529]

I’m involved in organizing two car events in May. In both cases we’ve handed rooms back. Interest significantly down on previous visits. 

Very strange.

[Non-Believer 9,302]

Carrier prices don't help. The SPCo is well documented but didn't EZ hike their prices to £400-odd return for the big race days last year? Ok, it's a market economy, supply and demand during busy period etc. But what are its effects on the rest of the economy?

[On The Bus 96]

44 minutes ago, Non-Believer said:

Carrier prices don't help. The SPCo is well documented but didn't EZ hike their prices to £400-odd return for the big race days last year? Ok, it's a market economy, supply and demand during busy period etc. But what are its effects on the rest of the economy?

It's not just an Isle of Man specific problem. If you catch hotel prices in a random UK town before a big concert or show is announced,then check them 12 hours later and they will have doubled, tripled or even more! 

For the amount of disruption that the TT causes  to Island life, I have no issue with the prices being charged to visitors when the 'main event' is completely free for them to watch. 

[On The Bus 96]

3 hours ago, Derek Flint said:

I’m involved in organizing two car events in May. In both cases we’ve handed rooms back. Interest significantly down on previous visits. 

Very strange.

Your event was one of the greener shoots in the visitor economy, Derek. 

Sadly the rest of it is pretty much dead or dying. There is never anything new or different. Year after years it's the status quo. same old same old. Same old trains, same old trams. It does nothing to differentiate the Isle of Man from places that are easier and cheaper to get to. 

The Isle of Man as a visitor destination is very much "oh yes it was nice but I wouldn't go back" - you come here once and you don't need to come back. 

[Non-Believer 9,302]

54 minutes ago, On The Bus said:

It's not just an Isle of Man specific problem. If you catch hotel prices in a random UK town before a big concert or show is announced,then check them 12 hours later and they will have doubled, tripled or even more! 

For the amount of disruption that the TT causes  to Island life, I have no issue with the prices being charged to visitors when the 'main event' is completely free for them to watch. 

But those prices being charged by one or two entities (notwithstanding that the SPCo is now Govt owned) are damaging the rest of the economy and dissuading X number of potential extra visitors? Transport links are the crucial pivot. If they aren't priced right the whole Island economy suffers.

[TheTeapot 4,868]

Keep the costs of getting here high so that only wealthy people come, and they can spend more when they're here so we're on a winner. Don't know what people are complaining about.

[On The Bus 96]

44 minutes ago, Non-Believer said:

But those prices being charged by one or two entities (notwithstanding that the SPCo is now Govt owned) are damaging the rest of the economy and dissuading X number of potential extra visitors? Transport links are the crucial pivot. If they aren't priced right the whole Island economy suffers.

Do you mean potential extra visitors for TT or the rest of the year? 

The current number of visitors is probably about the peak of what can realistically be achieved. We only have to look at the struggle the volunteer marshals have when they are trying to close the roads for racing. 

[Non-Believer 9,302]

9 minutes ago, On The Bus said:

Do you mean potential extra visitors for TT or the rest of the year? 

The current number of visitors is probably about the peak of what can realistically be achieved. We only have to look at the struggle the volunteer marshals have when they are trying to close the roads for racing. 

Both the TT/MGP and throughout the summer/tourist season. If it was cheap(er) to come and publicised as such it would certainly entice more IMHO. The widely held perception is that travel to and from the Island is expensive, certainly surface travel and EZ didn't do any favours last year. That perception is fuelled by such TT/MGP prices and then spread by word of mouth.

We're never going to revisit the turn of the 19th/20th century heydays but we can improve on the current situation. It's chicken and egg. We have to attract before private investment becomes worthwhile.

[display name 510]

Not forgetting that most of the motorcycling world couldn't care less about the TT or ManxGP

[On The Bus 96]

27 minutes ago, display name said:

Not forgetting that most of the motorcycling world couldn't care less about the TT or ManxGP

This is very true. More so than many local TT fans would realise. They like to think the IOM is some kind of mecca for all motorcycling fans... not so.  The TT is motorcycling, but there is a lot more to motorcycling than just the TT! 

[Irongate 2]

Not sure how they can say figures are up there was hardly anyone around the course for the Classic TT and even the grandstands were nearly empty The Amount spent on this event is astronomical and feel it’s the doe attempt to justify the unjustifiable 

[joebean 488]

Motorcycling is about a love of motorcycles and motorcycle riding. Most Motorcyclists like riding first and foremost. Many, but not all, are interested motorcycle sport. Of those that like motorcycle sport, a proportion will like watching sport bike racing. Of the proportion that like sport bike racing, a further proportion will be interested in road racing and a large proportion of these will be interested in the TT. Of those that are interested in the TT, a further proportion will be actively interested in coming to the Island to see the TT. None of these interest groups necessarily exclude interest in other forms of motorcycling or motorcycle sport but road racing at the TT is a niche within a niche within a niche. Given that active involvement in the riding of motorcycles is a declining hobby and within that, sport bike riding and ownership in Western Europe is also in decline, the TT and FoM does well to grow its attendance, even very incrementally, and will do very well in the future to maintain its active audience. Fewer young people are coming into motorcycling as a hobby and time will see the number of active motorcyclists in the principal areas of visitor origin decrease. Well, that is my theory anyway, based on many years of motorcycling.

Put all this together and the notion of continual growth in our IOM motorcycle events looks flawed and the assumption that large investment in event facilities will reap returns is probably misplaced. Reliance on Motorcycle events to attract a significant numbers of visitors in the long-term would be unwise and some new strategies should be explored. I worry that the heritage focus of our current tourism offering will also be a reducing attraction and the sector will experience a double decline. Some imagination and alternative investment is required, and soon.

[Max Power 4,889]

2 minutes ago, joebean said:

Motorcycling is about a love of motorcycles and motorcycle riding. Most Motorcyclists like riding first and foremost. Many, but not all, are interested motorcycle sport. Of those that like motorcycle sport, a proportion will like watching sport bike racing. Of the proportion that like sport bike racing, a further proportion will be interested in road racing and a large proportion of these will be interested in the TT. Of those that are interested in the TT, a further proportion will be actively interested in coming to the Island to see the TT. None of these interest groups necessarily exclude interest in other forms of motorcycling or motorcycle sport but road racing at the TT is a niche within a niche within a niche. Given that active involvement in the riding of motorcycles is a declining hobby and within that, sport bike riding and ownership in Western Europe is also in decline, the TT and FoM does well to grow its attendance, even very incrementally, and will do very well in the future to maintain its active audience. Fewer young people are coming into motorcycling as a hobby and time will see the number of active motorcyclists in the principal areas of visitor origin decrease. Well, that is my theory anyway, based on many years of motorcycling.

Put all this together and the notion of continual growth in our IOM motorcycle events looks flawed and the assumption that large investment in event facilities will reap returns is probably misplaced. Reliance on Motorcycle events to attract a significant numbers of visitors in the long-term would be unwise and some new strategies should be explored. I worry that the heritage focus of our current tourism offering will also be a reducing attraction and the sector will experience a double decline. Some imagination and alternative investment is required, and soon.

Pretty much sums it all up.

[dilligaf 8,156]

12 minutes ago, Irongate said:

Not sure how they can say figures are up there was hardly anyone around the course for the Classic TT and even the grandstands were nearly empty The Amount spent on this event is astronomical and feel it’s the doe attempt to justify the unjustifiable 

I would not miss the TT tbh, but would like to see the so called FOM enhanced and sidecars added. Far more variety as opposed to the TT when about 4 races are more or less the same.

2 strokes, sidecars, classics and maybe one race for so called superbikes would be good. 

Hold this in July and forget the June and August ones