Visitors to the Isle of Man for the first nine months of 2006 were 5% down on the same period last year.

Statistics from the Manx Treasury show a 17 per cent fall in business visitors and a 15% reduction in day visitors.

The number of leisure visitors staying in paid accommodation was down 1?%, although the figure for July to September was up by over 5%, making it the best third quarter since 2002.

Howard Caine reports:

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The fall in business arrivals is blamed on reduced activity in the construction and film industries.

The disappointing figure for day trippers is said to be down to a lack of day trips with the Steam Packet and the loss of the Lady of Mann pre TT day trip specials.

Director of Tourism Geoff Le Page is pointing to a recovery from a slow start to the year, thanks to a strong, well planned marketing campaign, aimed at the Island's core United Kingdom markets.

As part of the campaign 13,000 more Isle of Man guides were distributed than in 2005 and independent research showed the best figures for awareness and perception of the Island since 1999.

(Picture: An aerial view of the ferry docking area in Douglas).