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
