MilitantDogOwner Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 Just a hyperthetical. Say the TT stops now. So no 2009 TT. What so ever. What would be the effects to Island not just from a financial point, but a Tourism and general well being of the IOM. I know this is a touchy subject, so I dont want this to turn into a witchhunt on from either the pro/anti TT camps. I'm just curious as to whether the Island is so attached to the TT would it function with out it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Tatlock Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 It's a cultural thing to many people including me, and has been going since 1907. Stopping it would be like tearing much of the heart and identity out of the island, and be one more step towards our becoming another county of England. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilitantDogOwner Posted December 12, 2008 Author Share Posted December 12, 2008 But surely there is more to the Island than the TT. What about the other aspects I discussed. To say that if the TT went the IOM would just be another UK county doesn't say much for the IOM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Tatlock Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 But surely there is more to the Island than the TT. What about the other aspects I discussed. To say that if the TT went the IOM would just be another UK county doesn't say much for the IOM. I said 'another step towards becoming a county of England'. Fact is most outsiders know the island because of the TT, and to a lesser degree other motorsport, as well as old fogies remembering the island as a holiday destination of the past. The TT is crucial IMO, and probably brings with it a lot more hidden benefits than the TT itself, e.g. people opening accounts, bringing businesses here, coming to work here etc. etc. and the marketing benefits of a captive audience of 30,000 visitors each year shouldn't be underestimated. Of course the island has got other things going for it, but fact is they don't bring in the bacon or the amount of visitors we would need. People can go to the Lake District, Blackpool, Southport and abroad etc. at a fraction of the cost for travel/stay here. People who say otherwise are deluding themselves IMO and living in the past. The island is a nice place to live and bring up kids because it 'feels safe', which isn't actually backed by the statistics when you dig deeper or become aware of the actual extent of some of the problems over here. The entertainment infrastructure is fairly crap, and there is little, bordering on nothing, for kids to do here. So much money has been wasted by the government here over the years on so many stupid projects, with a failure to change the place much for the benefit of residents, let alone visitors, and they have let the major lifeline travel route become an expensive monopoly. They couldn't have buggered things up better if they had tried...and meanwhile while times were good, Joe Public here let them get away with it. Despite the propaganda, IMO we couldn't be more unprepared for a downturn in the finance sector. Businesses should do what they are best at, and well known for, and IOM PLC should 'stick to the the knitting' and the TT is one of the things we do best. This year with the pound at its lowest for a long time will prove what I'm saying, it hasn't been this cheap for people to get here £ v euro/dollar etc. but I don't think we'll be seeing much of a mad rush to get here somehow - other than for the TT. So yes, I think the island would sink a lot without the TT. But probably not as much as it is sinking with the calibre of politicians (less one or two exceptions), we have had running the place for the last twenty years. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollag Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 As i see it there are 3 distinct "types" when the subject of TT comes up 1 The died in the wool fanatic who accepts no other opinion but that the world ends with the TT. 2 The older type of local wallahs who througout most of their lives have been gratful to tourism and the TT in general for a living and hold that affinity even though the earning days are well gone. 3 Newcomer types who owe nothing to the TT and see no good reason to be inconvenienced by the oily smelly types, Me? in deffo a number 2, i know sod all about TT trivia but i "owe" it a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 I know this is a touchy subject, so I dont want this to turn into a witchhunt on from either the pro/anti TT camps. I'm just curious as to whether the Island is so attached to the TT would it function with out it? I wouldn't miss it as an event, but I wonder the financial effect it'd have on vat receipts which I understand are partially calculated on visitor numbers? As i see it there are 3 distinct "types" when the subject of TT comes up1 The died in the wool fanatic who accepts no other opinion but that the world ends with the TT. 2 The older type of local wallahs who througout most of their lives have been gratful to tourism and the TT in general for a living and hold that affinity even though the earning days are well gone. 3 Newcomer types who owe nothing to the TT and see no good reason to be inconvenienced by the oily smelly types, Can I be a 4) Manx born who's really tired of the inconvenience combined with the poor environmental and safety record? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Tatlock Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 I wouldn't miss it as an event, but I wonder the financial effect it'd have on vat receipts which I understand are partially calculated on visitor numbers? Each visitor represents (represented?) 0.18 of the population in that calculation I believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilitantDogOwner Posted December 12, 2008 Author Share Posted December 12, 2008 So would that put you in group 2 or 3 Slim? As I see there would be more groups: 1. Manx residents who have no connections to the TT and couldnt give a monkeys. 2. Non-Manx born residents who love the TT to the death. But whether you like the TT is irrelevant to the question. Is the TT so ingrained into the IOM and its people that if it were to cease to be could the IOM survive and even prosper? I'm not sure of the numbers and welcome to correction...The IOM's population is around 80k...ish...how many are directly and undirectly employed or make their primary incomes from the TT? Sorry slime you posted as I was typing my response... Sorry Sorry meant Slim...to early for me I'm afraid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jehovah Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 Think of what would be lost; Income to the papers by advertising and government notices, not just TT but road closures for repairs etc. At least one bank holiday. A nice smooth circular road on the island. Subsidised fares on the SPC, they do bump up prices for TT and this will subsidise their profits for the rest of the year. Loads of jobs in the DoT, people who do nothing else but plan for TT. Jobs in tourism, both of them. Chance to earn a few bob by letting out the garden/shed. Something to talk about when across. Something to moan when not across. Keep the TT, the island wouldn't be the same without it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Meoff Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 I am with Slim and a number 4 Grew up with the TT, love it to bits, best week of the year etc etc But the safty record is a disgrace, as it the behaviour toward other drivers of lots of the bikers. But let it die... never ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilitantDogOwner Posted December 12, 2008 Author Share Posted December 12, 2008 So other than a few jobs for the boys and the fact that its always been there, no real impact if it ceased then. What would we do with the surplus TT clothing and sticks of rock....mmmmm charity postage to Africa? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Meoff Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 do you want to work out the value that those 30,000 people bring to the IOM, start with the VAT and what they spend... ermmm far more than some cheap rock and leather jackets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilitantDogOwner Posted December 12, 2008 Author Share Posted December 12, 2008 I doubt its anywhere near the revenue that 80k people generate over the 52 weeks in a year as opposed to the 30k in 2 weeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Tatlock Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 I doubt its anywhere near the revenue that 80k people generate over the 52 weeks in a year as opposed to the 30k in 2 weeks. It was estimated at bringing in £8M last time I heard - but as I mentioned earlier I think there are a lot of other not easily quantifiable hidden benefits e.g. I personally know 3 people who have set up businesses here indirectly following initial visits to the TT and falling in love with the place. I still think we should be giving Bernie Eccleston a ring though... /open hornets nest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Meoff Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 But it is still revenue, and even if its only half of what Albert stated, thats a lot of money. Thing is I enjoy the atmosphere more than the actual bikes, but they are good for this fair Isle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.