Put on the spot with a series of questions over the latest travel statistics, Deputy Neil Inder grew increasingly irate during this week’s States meeting but he had some positive messages to share around predicted visitor numbers for the upcoming Easter holidays.
Deputy Gavin St Pier wanted clarity on Economic Development’s policy responses to declining visitor numbers, promoter scores, advertising effectiveness, the impact of business travel, and the French market’s future, as well as the committee’s overall assessment of the tourism sector’s recent highs and lows.
The Guernsey Travel and Visitor Annual Report 2024, which was released last month revealed the number of people visiting Guernsey for a holiday or for work has fallen by 34% over the last five years, with a 14% drop over the last year.
But Deputy Inder gave some indications of things turning a positive corner – with Brittany Ferries new schedules due to bring hundreds of visitors across this Easter.
The opening pleasantries
Deputy St Pier’s first question focussed on what policies ED intends to use to promote and develop the tourism sector to reverse the decline in the number of visitors staying at least one night since 2019, which has dropred 21%.
Deputy Inder said his committee has committed £1.9 million of its budget to marketing Guernsey as a destination, and has provided an uplift in 2024 by £250,000, which is being used to shoulder the costs of marketing the island.
The ED President added that there are promising signs on the horizon, citing the new contract with Brittany Ferries as a positive for visitors coming by sea.
Deputy St Pier then asked if ED thinks it is possible to reverse the decline in air passengers.
Deputy Inder said this is primarily down to societal changes, post-covid.
“The decline in visitors does include business visitors,” he said. “Now what’s significant, and I think we all understand is, COVID certainly changed the way business is done. I’d like to think that, (reversing the decline), was possible. The reality is, I suspect not.
“In terms of getting more visitors into the island via air, whether we like it or not, the ‘Black Swan’ event of last year didn’t help Guernsey at all,” he added.
One word replies and messages to future Deputies
As the questions kept coming over the tourism sector, the ED President grew irate and claimed people weren’t listening.
He repeatedly explained that the reduction in the ‘Promoter Score’ – where visitors refer the island on to others – was partly down to Aurigny’s issues last year, which were outside of his committee’s responsibility.
“The net promoter score is still very good!” he said.
“Guernsey is still a great place to come on holiday, it’s a great place to eat, it’s a great place to drink. The people are welcoming, and we remain ambassadors for what is a great product.”
When pushed on criticism his committee has received from industry bodies, he said investment is continuing and that is a positive sign despite what others may say.
“For all the negativity sometimes promoted by the so called representatives of the industry, there are millions and millions of pounds being invested in this industry,” he said. “Look at what’s happening in the island.
“Look what’s happening at La Grande Mare. Look at what’s happening at the Bella Luce. Look what the Little Big Company have done with the Peninsula Hotel. The people who invest in the island and develop their product will do well, those who live in the 1980s simply won’t!”
Deputy Inder used the debate to issue a warning to the next ED President, who will be elected in July following June’s island wide vote.
“This constant haranguing by so called ‘professional bodies’ who claim to represent the industry. Chasing them around the internet, chasing them via complaints, it doesn’t help,” he said.
“We will do it to ourselves, and unfortunately, we’ve got other problems, external problems, without basically eating ourselves.
“If I can advise the next President of Economic Development, good luck to you. It’s been difficult for the past four years, this island will eat itself.”
What did we actually learn
Away from the political pantomime, some nuggets of news were found.
Visitor numbers for this year are up, when talking about passengers travelling to the island from France, according to Deputy Inder.
“I’ve had some indications overnight over the Easter period, Brittany Ferries will be bringing in at least 250 passengers a day, straight into our island on day trips,” he said.
We learned that occupancy rates in 2024 were 56%, up from 50% in 2023, and that efforts to re-attract larger cruise ships include better port facilities and greater collaboration with STSB.
