Third of French day-trippers using ID cards

Thursday 27 July 2023

Around a third of French day-trippers travelling to Jersey by ferry have used their national ID cards since the launch of a pilot scheme allowing them to do so – and that figure is expected to rise.

Jersey Customs and Immigration have said that ferry operators are anticipating half of all their day trip passengers will enter the Island using their ID cards over the next couple of months.

The first French nationals to visit Jersey under the scheme arrived in April, following a breakthrough agreement at the conclusion of lengthy conversations with the UK government.

It was introduced following a marked drop in the number of day-trippers visiting the Island from France post-Brexit, as only around half the French population has a passport.

Pictured: JCIS said the number of French day trippers using the pilot scheme was expected to rise.

Home Affairs Minister Helen Miles told a Scrutiny Panel yesterday that she will conduct a review of the scheme, as the trial period agreed with the UK authorities includes the requirement for it to be reviewed.

Deputy Miles said that this would take place next month, with a view to extending the scheme beyond the end of September which is the current end date.

Manche Iles told Express of the positive effect the ID scheme had had on its passenger numbers earlier this month.

Sales and Marketing Director Olivier Normand reported that they had transported 20,000 passengers between January and the end of June 2023 – a 120% increase on the year before.

Jersey's External Relations Minister, Deputy Philip Ozouf, previously told UK politicians that the island's Government would like to see the length of time that French passengers travelling using their identity card extended from one day to two.

Jersey Hospitality Association Co-CEO Marcus Calvani said that the idea of allowing overnight stays was "wholeheartedly" backed by the industry, noting that the current ID pilot "doesn't have any impact on our accommodation sub-sector".

However, a possible extension was not mentioned by Deputy Miles during yesterday's Scrutiny hearing.