10 October, 2022
Visit Isle of Man has launched its first ever ‘Mindful Map’ to raise awareness of the breadth of the Island’s wellness, nature and adventure proposition and to help visitors locate the best hotspots and activities on the Island.
The Mindful Map is being released on World Mental Health Day, as Google trends research reveals that Google searches relating to “wellbeing” in 2022 are 64 percent higher than in September 2019, pre-pandemic.
Adventure and wellness seeking tourists who are on a mission to get off-grid, get away from it all and get back in touch with nature are a key market for the Isle of Man based on the Island’s current and developing product offering. These visitors will be able to download the free map and sample a ‘wellness and adventure weekend’ itinerary from the Visit Isle of Man website to help plan a short break based around their interests.
Ranald Caldwell, Non-Executive Chair of Visit Isle of Man, said:
‘Our research has shown that our Biosphere Reserve status and all that it encompasses is the key to creating a unique visitor product. The Isle of Man is the perfect destination for visitors looking to escape the everyday, close to home, with its vast array of activities and accessible wellness and adventure ‘hotspots’. We know that many of our residents are also passionate about the Island’s wellness and adventure offering and we hope that they too will utilise and enjoy this map, trying out new activities and locations and sharing it with their friends and family across.
‘We recognise that it can often require local knowledge to effectively identify the best activities and places to explore when visiting somewhere new, so we developed our ‘mindful map’ to encourage visitors to think about how they can make the most of their holidays and short breaks. Whether visitors are seeking the best spots for cold water swimming, exploring our 18 National Glens, waterfalls and secluded gorges, or to lay under the stars at one of our 26 dark skies sites, the Isle of Man has something for all adventurers. Whilst most of the sites are free to enter, some activities require specialist equipment or local guides and suppliers. Visitors may choose to bring equipment with them but we hope this map will serve to support and boost activity for local adventure and wellness businesses by drawing attention to the accessible and superior product offering we have.’
The newly approved Visitor Economy Strategy ‘Our Island, Our Future’ sets out ambitious targets of reaching 500,000 visitors per annum by 2032 as well as identifying primary target markets and Action Programmes to support the growth plans. The Visitor Product Development Action Programme focuses on recognising ways in which the Island’s unique selling points, which includes its Biosphere Reserve status, countryside and coastline, can be utilised to provide a more distinctive and compelling visitor experience.
To access the Mindful Map, please visit: www.visitisleofman.com/wellbeing
