With huge numbers of fans due to travel to the Isle of Man for TT 2008, the Department of Tourism and Leisure is urging Island residents to sign up to the Homestay scheme.
The scheme is operated to cater for the overflow of tourists during the TT festival, which runs from May 24 to June 7 this year, and anyone interested in opening up their homes to visitors is being asked to register their property early.
Large numbers of visitors are expected at TT 2008. The Steam Packet recently announced that bookings so far are well ahead of those recorded for TT 2005 and TT 2006 by this point.
The ferry company is continuing to take bookings for its 233 sailings planned for the TT – 115 more than offered by the normal schedule.
Tourism and Leisure Minister Adrian Earnshaw said:
‘The highly successful Homestay programme has now been operating for 17 years and our aim is to reach the same target as last year, when 1,521 homes participated in the scheme.’
‘I know some wonderful friendships have developed through families welcoming visitors in to their homes and, of course, this is also a good opportunity for families to earn some extra money.’
Among Homestay host families are Frances and Harley Shimmin, from Crosby, who have been participating in the scheme for five years.
Harley said:
‘It’s a good experience and I would highly recommend it.’
‘To date we have hosted people from England, France, Southern Ireland, Switzerland and Germany and have enjoyed the experience very much. We feel we benefit just as much as our guests do and welcome the opportunity to share our home and culture with them.’
Homestay can be offered during TT for any number of nights between May 24 and June 7, with newly registering homes undergoing a compulsory, though simple, inspection by department officers prior to being accepted on the scheme.
The inspection is to ensure visitors enjoy a satisfactory standard of accommodation.
To find out more about Homestay, contact Pippa Gilbert by email, pippa.gilbert@gov.im, or by ‘phone on 686802.
Or you can visit the Isle of Man Department of Tourism and Leisure website.