Transport is the key driver for a successful Guernsey tourist sector

TRANSPORT IS THE KEY DRIVER FOR A SUCCESSFUL GUERNSEY TOURIST SECTOR

2 September 2022

The future success of Guernsey’s tourist economy, which benefits the whole island from underpinning essential air and sea links to quality restaurants, can be summed up in a single word – transport – the Guernsey Hospitality Association has said today.

GHA president Alan Sillett said that as members start to look to the 2023 season, there was a growing feeling that some of the mistakes of this year had to be avoided.

“We need to make it as easy, cost effective and pleasurable as possible for people to come here,” he said, “and some of the well-publicised issues with fares, connectivity, ferry timetables and lack of taxis have, unfortunately, been something of an own goal.”

The GHA was liaising with the Committee for Economic Development, which has responsibility for the well-being of the sector, to see how best these issues could be addressed for next year.

‘In particular, we have raised with them the difference between the 2019 pre-Covid passenger and bed-occupancy figures and this years’ experience,” said Mr Sillett. “Yes, there has been something of a bounce-back but we all need that to be sustainable and the actual passenger movement figures don’t necessarily support that.”

Air passenger movement numbers compared to 2019 were down 22% in May, 21% in June, and 21% in July, with UK route numbers being as much as 16,000 passengers lower in certain months.

Sea passenger numbers in the same period showed declines of 36%, 32%, and 34% with lower numbers via the UK, France and Jersey.

“You cannot have significant drops in passenger movement statistics and the higher bed occupancy rates that have been quoted – the two do not correlate,” he said. While the GHA and the sector remained optimistic, there were some concerning trends and these have been raised with Economic Development.

Dialogue needed

Mr Sillett said they had written to Economic Development seeking information on a range of issues and looked forward to a constructive dialogue with the department because it was in everyone’s interests to have a vibrant tourist economy.

“What’s often forgotten is that around half of all those using the existing sea and air links are visitors,” he said. “Reduce that to any significant degree and imagine the effect that would have on connectivity and the cost of fares.”

That was one reason the GHA had asked Economic Development for an update on the latest report by Frontier Economics to provide a business case for extending Guernsey’s runway to a minimum of 1,700 metres.

An earlier resolution of the States means the current CfED has an obligation to report back to the Assembly on extending the runway and GHA members wanted to know when that will happen because of the potential for improved connectivity and cheaper fares.

“Looked at in the round, Guernsey has much to offer as a tourist destination and we all need to be working together to maximise our potential. That means making the visitor experience truly excellent and one that they wish to repeat. The foundations for that are better, more reliable and more affordable transport links to and from Guernsey, and also on island.”

Mr Sillett added that he and members looked forward to being involved at an early
stage with the Tourism Strategy that the Committee for Economic Development was currently working on and he hoped it would recommend positive action on the issues GHA members were raising.

The Guernsey Hospitality Association (GHA) was formed in September 2020. Its aim is to support, promote and champion hospitality and especially those connected to the accommodation, food and drink sectors in Guernsey.
Its extensive membership includes those operating in the sectors of accommodation, restaurants and bars, and visitor-focused businesses. www.hospitality.gg

The island’s hospitality sector employs more than 1,800 staff, has more than 170 employing businesses and contributed an estimated £200million to Guernsey’s economy in 2019.