An impressive "gateway" for those arriving on the Island is of great economic importance.
That's the belief of Economic Development Minister Laurence Skelly.
He was speaking after Tynwald on Wednesday approved more than ?1.3 million-worth of funding for the second phase of work on Douglas promenade.
It will be carried out as a public-private partnership and whilst it's a relatively small scheme will lead into the critical next phase which will in part deal with moving the horse tram tracks on that section.
But he rejects suggestions that it may be another 15 or more years at the current pace before the entire promenade is resurfaced and modernised: Clip 1