A service that plays a key role in community life in the Isle of Man is celebrating a significant milestone this year.
The Isle of Man Government Welcome Centre at the Sea Terminal in Douglas is marking its 10th anniversary by rebranding itself for the future.
The new slogan ‘Gateway to Our Island’ reflects the importance of the services and support provided to local people and visitors to the Isle of Man.
The Isle of Man Government Welcome Centre is well-established as the Island’s main information hub. Dedicated and knowledgeable staff are available to offer guidance on the many attractions the Island has to offer and to help people access a wide range of Government services.
The Cabinet Office took over responsibility for the Welcome Centre two years ago. A number of improvements and innovations have been introduced during this time in response to feedback from customers and members of the team.
These have included the sale of products from Mostly Manx, Isle of Man Railways and Manx National Heritage, the installation of new signage and a hearing loop to improve accessibility and the opening of a customer self-service room to provide literature for visitors to the Island who arrive outside the Welcome Centre’s opening hours.
A ‘Get Online Room’ has also been established where customers can access Government’s online services, with support from a member of staff if required.
Isle of Man Government services that can be accessed through the Welcome Centre include:
• Buying tickets and travel cards for the Island’s buses, steam railway and Manx Electric Railway
• Booking shows at the Villa Marina and Gaiety Theatre
• Obtaining Proof of Age cards and concession cards
• Paying Government invoices
• Purchasing fishing licences
• Music Service payments
• Online service support
• Community information point
The 10th anniversary was celebrated on Thursday, 4 May 2017, when Chief Minister Howard Quayle MHK unveiled a plaque at the Welcome Centre.
Mr Quayle said: ‘The Welcome Centre has been supporting people in a host of different ways for the past decade. It is often the first stop for visitors to the Island and helps people to access Government services and information. The 10th anniversary provides an ideal opportunity to raise public awareness of the Welcome Centre and ensure that it is positioned for meet people’s needs in the future. Gateway to our Island captures the ethos of the Welcome Centre as somewhere that can help people to access all the Isle of Man has to offer. This is in line with the Programme for Government objective of promoting the Island as a special place to live and work.’
The Isle of Man Government Welcome Centre can be contacted via email manxwelcomecentre@gov.im, telephone 686801, via Facebook and Twitter, or at the Sea Terminal, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2BX.
It is open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 6pm during the winter and Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm and Sundays from 9am to 2pm in the summer (last Sunday in May to last Sunday in September).
Photo - Chief Minister unveils Welcome Centre plaque.
