European destination’s bold tourism strategy sees visitors’ mobile phones locked away

Douglas Lighthouse with Cliffs on the Isle of Man

A well-known island in Europe is trialling a new initiative to offer visitors a digital detox and a better travel experience.

The initiative sees visitors to the Isle of Man lock their mobile phones away in phone boxes on arrival for the duration of their trip in return for traditional, analogue alternatives including a film camera, a map of the island and a travel journal.

The Isle of Man came up with the bold initiative to help tourists enjoy its natural beauty and rejuvenate from the digital world.

“We want to encourage our visitors to disconnect, switch off and step away from digital distractions in order to disassociate from work and social media and concentrate better on surroundings,” Angela Byrne, head of Visit Isle of Man, said.

“By installing phone boxes in glamping locations around the island, this will help people escape from everyday life and embrace the many activities that the island has to offer as well as spending time connecting with each other, without relying on technology for entertainment or communication.

“Although life without a phone can seem daunting at first, there’s nothing that cannot be solved the good old-fashioned way.”

The UNESCO Biosphere status-awarded island offers a wide range of ‘offline’ activities, such as hiking, horse riding, water sports and a vast range of local food delicacies to sample.

Image: iStock/tr3gi

Latest News

  • Travel Agents

Agents chance to score free spot on Intrepid trip to Antarctica

Fancy a free spot on an Intrepid Travel trip to Antarctica with key partnerships manager Leigh Reynolds? That extraordinary opportunity is up for grabs for any agent who books an Intrepid Travel Ocean Endeavour Antarctica 2024/2025 season departure during the incentive period. The lucky winners of the ‘Earn a Free Spot to Antarctica Incentive’ will […]

  • Hotels

Pullman Sydney Penrith ties up with Trilogy Hotels, announces new GM

Trilogy Hotels and Panthers Group have signed a milestone agreement that will see Trilogy Hotels oversee operations of the five-star Pullman Sydney Penrith. Part of a $110m investment from Panthers Group, the 153-room hotel opened in August last year and is the first five-star offering in Penrith. Trilogy Hotels is a new name in the […]

  • Partner Content

My journey: Before becoming a travel agent I was… a palliative care nurse 

Australind Travel & Cruise, Travellers Choice member Saibra Twigg reveals her life as paediatric nurse then to palliative care before a career leap to travel agent. How did you become a palliative care nurse?  ST I went straight from school in nursing and initially specialised in paediatrics, working at Perth’s Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. […]

Partner Content

by Travel Weekly

Travel Weekly
  • Destinations
  • News

APT Launches 2025 Asia Adventures

APT has launched its Asia Adventures for 2025, including new luxury holidays in India, Sri Lanka and Japan. Five new tours lead guests to the highlights of India, including a seven-night cruise along the rarely travelled Lower Ganges aboard the Ganges Voyager. Further south, Sri Lanka’s greatest destinations are revealed on a new 15-day Land […]