The Isle of Man Government’s Department for Enterprise has revealed the findings of a survey it commissioned on this year’s TT event attendance, the first such in-depth research exercise conducted since pre-Covid 2019. In both cases, figures were extrapolated from extensive visitor interview samples.
The overall number of visitors in 2023 was estimated at 43,272, 6.3% lower than the 2019 TT estimate of 46,174 – which had been 4% up on 2018 and the highest figure recorded since surveys of this type began.
Average 2023 expenditure per visitor reached £834 and their total spend amounted to an estimated £36.1m. This contrasted with a per-visitor expenditure of £801 in 2019, adding up to a total of £37.5m, and therefore represented a 3.7% revenue decline.
The average length of stay for visitors was 6.09 nights, down from 6.8 nights in 2019. 79.2% of them were staying in paid accommodation. 32.4% were camping and 23.5% resided in hotels or guesthouses.
There was a 30.6% increase in those travelling to and from the Island by air, compared to 2019. And 90.7% of all visitors were from the UK and Ireland.
The largest age group were 50–64-year-olds, comprising 38.3% of all visitors. This was followed by 22.6% in the 30–49-year-old bracket and 18.9% who were 65 years old or more. Just 3.7% were under the age of 18 years.
4.1% of TT visitors were registered disabled or had some form of sensory, physical or mental issues, which seems remarkably low considering a bunch of bikers were being surveyed!