Guernsey is preparing to welcome a record number of arrivals from France tomorrow as St Peter Port Harbour has been told to expect 750 passengers arriving from St Malo.
Brittany Ferries says this is the largest influx of visitors from the continent that it has carried in one go since it took over the ferry contract in March.
To welcome them all, VisitGuernsey has arranged for live musicians to entertainment them in the passenger terminal, and a ‘meet and greet’ team will be handing out maps and information.
“We are absolutely delighted to welcome so many passengers from France – it’s a great reflection of Guernsey’s appeal,” said Zoe Gosling, Lead Marketing Officer at the States of Guernsey.
“We’ve worked hard ahead of the season to make our French visitors feel welcome, including increasing French-language signage and posters around the harbour.”
The 750 visitors are due to arrive at 09:00 onboard the Voyager.
Brittany Ferries says the hundreds of passengers due in tomorrow mirrors the current trend of a significant increase in continental visitors to Guernsey this year.
The increase can be linked to the start of Brittany Ferries schedules in March which favour day trippers from St Malo to here, rather than vice versa.
The ferry firm said foot passenger numbers have increased 191% from last year and overall forward bookings are 123% above the same period.
Paul Acheson, Commercial Director of Brittany Ferries, said the higher number of people travelling is all down to those schedules, with more frequent sailings and joint marketing between the ferry firm and VisitGuernsey.
“It is fantastic to see a record set so early in the season,” he said. “Even more encouraging is the consistent growth across the summer.
“Our data indicates that visitors are not just travelling here on day trips, rather they are staying for longer, which is obviously a boost for the local hospitality and tourism sectors.”
“In partnership with VisitGuernsey, we have been actively promoting the direct services and improved frequency in Europe and UK, deploying a mix of TV, direct mail and online marketing.”