Isle of Man’s Destination First Board launches new ‘Resident Sentiment Survey’

Destination First, a newly formed public and private sector board dedicated to destination development and stewardship of the Isle of Man, has launched its first ‘Resident Sentiment Survey’.

Led by Visit Isle of Man, Destination First is a collaborative initiative, supported by Tynwald, that has brought together key stakeholders across public and private sectors, including Isle of Man Government Departments, local authorities, politicians and public champions. The Destination First Board is focused on advancing the Isle of Man Government’s ‘Our Island Plan’ to create a more secure, vibrant and sustainable island for Isle of Man residents and visitors. Additionally, the Board is dedicated to enhancing the visitor experience, a cornerstone of the Visit Agency’s ten-year visitor economy strategy, ‘Our Island, Our Future’.

The ’Resident Sentiment Survey’, the first of its kind and one of many initiatives planned for 2025, has been designed to gather valuable feedback and information from Isle of Man residents on various aspects of life on the Island. This comprehensive survey seeks to better understand how residents feel about the quality of the Island’s service culture, infrastructure and their overall satisfaction with living in the Isle of Man.

Key focus areas of the ‘Resident Sentiment Survey’ include:

• Service Culture: exploring residents’ perceptions of customer service across a wide range of sectors, from retail and hospitality to public services and tourism-related businesses.
• Infrastructure: gathering insights on the state of the Island’s transport networks, public amenities and wider infrastructure.
• Overall Satisfaction: understanding residents’ general satisfaction with living on the Isle of Man, including factors such as safety, accessibility and the quality of local services and facilities.

Ranald Caldwell, Chair of the Destination First Board, commented:

‘We believe that understanding the thoughts and experiences of our residents is crucial in shaping the future of the Isle of Man. By gathering detailed insights from those who live here, we can ensure that the Island continues to evolve in a way that meets the needs and expectations of those that call the Isle of Man home, while also improving the overall visitor experience.

‘This survey marks the first step towards establishing an annual ‘Resident Sentiment Survey’, allowing us to track and monitor progress over time, and continuously improve service delivery across the Island. We encourage all Isle of Man residents to take part and share their thoughts, as together we can work towards creating a sustainable and thriving destination for both residents and visitors alike.’

Sarah Maltby MHK, Destination First Board Member and political representative for Visit Isle of Man, added:

‘The Destination First Board promises to be a collaboration of stakeholders only seen in dreams between Isle of Man Government, local authorities and the great Manx community. It is aimed at driving a cultural shift in how we present and enhance the Isle of Man for both residents and visitors. While we have gathered valuable insights from local government and public authorities, we recognise that the voice of our residents is essential. This is your opportunity to share your perspectives, raise concerns and help shape the future of your Island. We want to hear from you!’

The survey takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete and can be accessed here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/R8J9DH8. The survey will close on 30^th April 2025.