Frosty feelings from Tamba Park towards Arctic Village

Wednesday 14 December 2016

Jonathan Ruff – the owner of Jersey’s popular Tamba Park chain of attractions – is the newest voice in an increasing crowd of disgruntled Islanders to air frustration at the Arctic Village.

In an angry post on the Tamba Park Facebook page – liked by nearly 10,000 people – Mr Ruff said that he was “shocked at how poor” the winter attraction was after visiting with some family members.

Also blasting the ice skating and retail space for being “badly themed,” he said: “It was certainly no artic village [sic] and we left after spending two minutes and no money in there!”

One of his key criticisms was over the message the alleged misuse of “such a prominent space” would send to tourists.

“I need tourism to increase to make my businesses work as the island needs tourism to boost the economy, attractions and events in jersey will help this but only if they are good!”

The States of Jersey should therefore “put measures in place” so that potential event organisers are required to submit a detailed plan before getting the “green light”, he suggested.

While the tone of the post was negative, Mr Ruff assured readers that he had “no disrespect to the people operating inside [the Arctic Village].”