Two civil servants represented Guernsey at a cruise travel trade show last year – with their travel, expenses, and entry fees costing just over £10,000.
The States has explained the amount spent in a response to a Freedom of Information request which asked for confirmation of how many deputies and civil servants went to the event in Miami, and how much it cost.
A spokesperson for the Committee for Economic Development said two civil servants attended the Seatrade Global (Miami) trade show in March 2025. No deputies went.
The ED spokesperson said “Seatrade Global (Miami) is well-established, running for more than 50 years, and is regarded as the gold standard for cruise professionals across the world.
“More than 11,500 cruise professionals attended, with more than 650 exhibitors, 75 cruise line brands and 128 countries represented.
“The total cost of the exhibition fee, and travel/accommodation/expenses for two civil servants who travelled to Miami in 2025 to attend this event is £10,019.38.”
The cruise industry has been hugely valuable to Guernsey in the recent past, and its contribution to the economy is still being measured annually, but the number of ships visiting the islands and the passenger numbers have decreased.
The decline started before the covid pandemic with post-Brexit duty free rules a key factor in P&O’s decision to reduce its visits to the island.
Fewer ships, fewer people
A decade ago the cruise ship industry was reported to contribute around £4million a year to Guernsey’s economy.
That money was made through landing fees and the average spend per person when passengers came ashore.
In 2015, 123,000 cruise visitors came to Guernsey. By 2019, that number had dropped to 115,000.
By 2025, the number had plummeted to 28,000.
The covid pandemic caused a near-total shut down of the industry during 2020 and 2021, but it initially looked like it would recover with 90,000 cruise guests visiting in 2022.
The number dropped to 85,000 in 2023, and 38,000 in 2024.
Just 50 ships are scheduled to visit the island during 2026, compared to 108 which were booked to sail into the Little Russel during 2015.
Last year had 64 booked to visit but only 54 came. Some visits are cancelled because of the weather or for other reasons every year.
A positive change reported for 2026 is that this year’s cruise ship schedule shows some larger ships visiting compared to last year.
P&O’s Ventura, which carries just over 3,000 passengers, is due to make two visits to Guernsey this summer, while the AIDAsol which carries more than 2,600 passengers is due to make three trips.
Mein Schiff 3 which carries more than 2,700 passengers and the Carnival Legend which carries more than 2,500 passengers are both booked to visit once each.
The Bailiwick
The smaller islands of the Bailiwick also attract cruise ship passengers – often on smaller ships due to the limitations of their harbours.
The numbers appear to have held steady comparing 2015 to 2026.
Herm had four scheduled visits in 2015 and has three this year – all in May – with the largest expected being the 264 passenger L’Austral.
Sark had eight scheduled visits in 2015 with six due this year. The largest expected this year is the Silver Wind carrying 322 passengers. Its scheduled cruise ship visits this year are mainly in May with one in April.
Alderney had six scheduled visits in 2015, with eight due to visit this year – the largest being the 420 passenger Hamburg.
Alderney’s eight scheduled trips are spread across May, June, and July.
The passengers will step ashore at Braye Harbour.
A spokesperson for the Braye Beach Hotel said there is a “notable increase” in day visitors to the island when a cruise ship docks.
“We’re delighted to welcome guests onto our terraces throughout the season,” they said.
“There is something quietly luxurious about sitting just above the shoreline, hearing the tide and taking in the views which always feel peaceful. It’s a moment of calm that visitors carry long after they leave.”