There are loads of places worth visiting in and around the British Isles – we even created a list of our top recommendations here – but there’s so much to see that a lot of great destinations get overlooked. The Isle of Man (which is not in the UK but is definitely pretty close) is one such destination.
Last year, the Isle of Man announced that it had big ambitions to attract an additional 500,000 visitors by 2032, almost doubling the size of the local tourism industry. They reckon their gorgeous scenery and bustling capital city makes for a great holiday – if you don’t mind the ferry trip.
Like the UK, the Isle of Man is introducing a system of Electronic Travel Authentication (ETA) which will require people to pay £10 for a security check before visiting.
The authentication is similar to the British ETA, which was introduced earlier this year and grants visitors from 40 different nations who do not need a visa, like the USA, Australia, and Canada, entry into the UK for two years at a time. It’s not quite a visa and and nor is it a tourist tax, but a sort of in-between with added security clearance – you can learn more about the details of that system here.
The Isle of Man’s ETA will operate very similarly. It will cost £10, and allow travellers to enter a ‘Common Travel Area’ which will include the Isle of Man, the UK, Ireland and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey and Guernsey, so you’re getting pretty good bang for your buck. British and Irish citizens will not need to apply for authentication before visiting the island.
Once purchased, the visa will be good for two years, or until your passport expires. You’ll be allowed to stay for up to six months at any one time, and if you already have a visa you won’t need one at all.
According to Alex Allinson, the Manx Treasury Minister, introducing the visa was a ‘difficult [decision]’, but that it was necessary to balance the books and invest in public infrastructure. Speaking to the Isle of Man parliament, he explained that the visa is a ‘pivotal step towards ongoing work to keep our island a safe place to live, work, and visit’.
The Isle of Man ETA will be administered by the UK government, and will be available for purchase online.
Staycations and Road Trips according to Time Out
If you’re planning a holiday on nearby shores anytime soon, the Isle of Man isn’t the only place worth visiting. Here’s our favourite UK road trips, and some of what we consider to be the most beautiful places in the country. We’ve also got guides to the most romantic locations in the UK, and some pretty cool castles you can stay overnight in.
Did you see that a brand-new train route will soon connect two of the UK’s most popular beach towns?
Plus: After 400 years, beavers have finally returned to this pretty English town.
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