Tourism needs a big shake-up...but don't hold your breath!

Wednesday 11 June 2014

Major change to the way Tourism is run in Jersey received near total support from the members of the Chamber of Commerce present at a meeting set up to discuss the future of the industry. But none of the 80 audience members thought it would actually happen any time soon.

Replacing Jersey Tourism with an independent body called Visit Jersey, which would have a board of Directors but be funded by the States, was the main proposal to come out of a year-long review of the industry conducted by the Tourism Shadow Board. Last night the Board's Chairman, John Henwood, presented its plans to Chamber members.

At the end of the meeting, which took place in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Chamber President James Filleul asked for a show of hands from those present who supported the proposal to create Visit Jersey - more than 90% of the audience indicated their support for the move. 

Mr Filleul followed up by asking if they thought the new body would be in place by Liberation Day 2015, and so be ready to make an impact on marketing the Island in time for the next year, 2016. No one put their hand up. 

Earlier, John Henwood said that the board's proposals were being taken forward, and the first draft of an implementation plan was close to being completed, and moves to recruit a Chief Executive for Visit Jersey would begin soon.

But he also admitted that he needed to work hard to keep momentum behind the proposals, as otherwise they risked being derailed, having met opposition from Jersey Tourism. 

Mr Henwood used the meeting to urge the audience to put the tourism industry on the agenda at the forthcoming elections, and make sure all candidates had to clearly state what they would do to support it. It was part of what he described as a 'new deal' for the industry, which would see the Island doing as much to support tourism as it has done in recent years to support the finance industry.