Record ferry passengers during Manx Grand Prix

The Steam Packet said it saw 31,406 inbound passengers during Manx Grand Prix

A record-breaking number of ferry passengers visited the Isle of Man during the Manx Grand Prix and reintroduced Classic TT in August, the operator has said.

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company recorded 31,406 passengers visiting during the event, which ran from 17 to 29 August - up from 26,296 last year - which is the highest since 1993.

The format of the August road racing event was overhauled in 2025 in a bid by the enterprise department to reverse a post-pandemic drop in visitors.

However, last month also saw passengers travelling through the Isle of Man Airport fall by 4,695, equating to 7.7%, on the same period the previous year.

This year's event saw an extended schedule, as well as the return of the Classic TT brand, which had been scrapped after the coronavirus pandemic.

The Steam Packet was hit by a number of delays and cancellations during the period after smoke was detected in Manxman's machine room, and safety equipment was damaged on the firm's reserve vessel Ben-My-Chree.

'Annual growth'

The previous record number of inbound ferry passengers during the Manx Grand Prix was 29,824 in 2003.

Managing Director Brian Thompson said: "We've seen our annual volumes grow each year since the end of the Covid restrictions."

The ferry operator also recorded a 9.6% rise in passengers coming to the island across the school summer holiday period, carrying 150,672 inbound passengers - up from 137,483 last year.

The government-owned ferry operator said that was due to good weather in July and August along with changes to pricing structures.

In November, the firm reduced its standard fares and introduced free travel for under 16s.

Those changes were made in light of feedback received by the firm in a survey last autumn, which was relaunched this week.

The latest survey calling for public views on the island's ferry services and will run until 17 September.