Following the recent ministerial and departmental reshuffles, Tourism Minister David Cretney MHK has been hard at work ensuring his Department is in good shape for the future.

The Minister has been in charge since 1996 and is delighted at the contribution tourism has made towards the Island’s economy in recent years. Visitor spend was £113million in 2004 while the GDP (national income) from tourist accommodation alone was up 22% to £13.36m*.

‘We must not, however, be complacent,’ Mr Cretney said today. ‘The partnership with all sectors of the industry must continue and we will seek to increase that contribution in the time ahead.’

The Department is also responsible for Leisure and Public Transport on the Island and, after delivering on budget and on time both the National Sports Centre and Villa Marina, the investment in sports, arts and leisure will continue. At Public Transport, the Department is responsible for the historic rail infrastructure with major investment to ensure its future combined with a modern, environmental and passenger friendly bus fleet which together with ongoing provision of shelters has been well received by the travelling public.

‘The Tourism Division is being restructured to meet the challenges ahead and to drive the implementation of the Fit For The Future Strategy approved by Tynwald in 2004, said the Minister. ‘This work will hopefully be concluded by October and I have taken the opportunity to give my Departmental colleagues Martyn Quayle MHK and Pamela Crowe MLC joint responsibility in line with the restructured plans.’

The delegated responsibility is as follows:-

Martyn Quayle MHK

Areas of responsibility:-

Tourism (Communication): Consisting of branding, exhibitions, campaigns, publications, public relations.

Tourism (Quality and Service): Which is visitor and business advisory services, Manx Welcome Programme, training, quality management, tourism information.

Chairman : Visitor Development Partnership

Pamela Crowe MLC

Areas of responsibility:-

Tourism (Product Development) New initiatives in conferences, activity breaks, cruise visits and other new ‘niche’ areas, market research/legislation.

Tourism (Events Unit)

Chairman : Tourism Development Fund

Member : Visitor Development Partnership

The Tourism Development Fund aims to support the industry to encourage investment in ongoing quality provision and in areas such as bed spaces and conversions of farm buildings for tourism and development

David Cretney also took the opportunity to announce two new tourism initiatives which will be finalised in the weeks ahead:

Visitor Development Partnership

This is to replace the private/public sector Marketing Partnership which he established in 1997. The new group will comprise a number of the best visitor-related business brains on the Island who are to be invited to work on strategic issues with the Department to identify key opportunities for the Island’s tourism in the years ahead. The partnership will also enjoy high level political representation from Martyn Quayle MHK as chairman and Pamela Crowe MLC as a member.

Tourism Quality awards ceremony

The Minister also revealed that a Tourism Awards programme will be launched by the Department in January 2006 as part of an umbrella quality initiative to continue raising standards in the hospitality industry and to build on the Manx Welcome industry-wide training programme. Categories are still to be finalised but are likely to include best restaurant/café, best visitor attraction etc. with the aim to reward those who achieve high standards across all aspects of the visitor industry, and to ensure ongoing and improving quality standards to meet customer expectations.

Leisure Division

Eddie Lowey MLC, a Department member since 1996, retains responsibility for this area. He will chair the Leisure Division. Chairman of the Sports Council (Geoff Karran) and Arts Council (John Riley) will join him as he is delegated the Minister’s powers in this area. Eddie continues in his role with the Arts Council and inherits the Minister’s role with the Sports Council. He remains a Member of the TT Co-ordinating Committee and takes responsibility in a new area which has been given to the Department by the Council of Ministers.

The 3 Legs Strategy led by the Department of Tourism with representation from Manx National Heritage and the Department of Education aims to build on cultural and tourism links with the European city of culture (Liverpool 2008) and the links established with Stavangar, Norway. Eddie Lowey MLC is to chair this new initiative.

David Cretney MHK: Minister Department of Tourism & Leisure Responsibilities:

Public Transport (buses, trains)

Chairman TT organisation

TT Festival

Chairman TT 2007 organisation

Chairman Commonwealth Youth Games 2011 Supervisory Committee

The Minister added: ‘Much work has been taking place on planning for the TT 2007 and officer work is now being formalised with a number of key individuals to be invited to join with me to cover supervision of the historic event as the ‘TT 2007 organisation’.

15th August 2005

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