Hotelier's reflection on visitor figures
The Island's tourist industry must pull together to fight a slowdown in passenger numbers, according to one Douglas hotelier.
Owner of The Wellbeck, Michael George, enjoyed a good year in 2017, in spite of a reported 8.9% drop in visitors to the Island - with guest bed bookings at his property up by 10%.
But he also reported a slight fall in revenue, as well as a 'noticeable' drop in business customers.
Mr George is pushing for a 'rethink' of tourism policy in the Island, including the scrapping of the state-enforced hotel grading system.
But he insists the slump cannot be blamed entirely on government tourism chiefs:
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