THE Isle of Man’s main tourist attractions are all losing millions of pounds each year, according to figures released by the government yesterday.

The railways and buses and the three main visitor centres are accumulating annual deficits which are totally subsidised by the government by more than £12 million.

However, the figures are not a surprise to the government who have always seen the rail and bus services as a necessity and that the state-owned attractions should be maintained for tourists and locals to enjoy.

The figures - published here - show that the facility costing the government considerably more than any other is the bus service, which last year had a deficit of just under £6 million.

They were released by the Minister for Community, Culture and Leisure David Cretney following a question from David Callister MLC.

The Wildlife Park in Ballaugh is the facility running with the smallest deficit at £474,721 during 2010 - 2011.