2026 will be another crucial year for tourism in Guernsey – with the current focus through a ‘Tourism Management Board’ being reviewed.
The sector contributes around £134 million to the island’s economy (based on 2024 figures) with recent grant allocations seeing States funding go into new and existing initiatives, celebrating the island’s heritage, culture, food, and sporting communities, to attract visitors and to keep them coming back.
The States’ tourism lead is confident two new co-Chairs for the TMB can help that revenue intake continue while Aurigny, Brittany Ferries, Islands Unlimited and others are all making positive statements around this year’s travel options.
Tourism Management Board
The TMB itself was set up three years ago, and with two new co-Chairs at the helm, its role is being considered to see how it can be tweaked and improved for the future.
The TMB comes under the Committee for Economic Development with a remit to develop and implement a tourism strategy with the ultimate aim of driving up visitor numbers.
Deputy Lee van Katwyk is the Tourism Lead for ED and he recently named Charlie Walker and Clare Crown as the TMB’s new co-Chairs.
They’re replacing Hannah Beacom who was Chair of the TMB for its first three years.
“Firstly I’d like to thank Hannah Beacom for her hard work over the last three years to ensure the TMB was supporting the Committee in its aspirations for island tourism,” said Deputy van Katwyk. “Her support has been very useful since the election in allowing the Committee to hit the ground running.
“Between Charlie and Clare, I am confident that the TMB is being passed into good hands, and will continue to support the Committee effectively. It has always been important that the TMB represents a wide-range of voices, and having two experienced members of the industry co-chairing, both with very different perspectives, will – we think – allow the TMB to be as effective as possible.”
When the current TMB model was introduced in 2023, it was with an agreement that it would be reviewed before the end of 2026.
Deputy van Katwyk said this process is underway, and the appointment of the new Chairs is on an interim basis until the review concludes.
“We are in the final year of the current agreement with the TMB, and therefore are required to review the role and structure of the body, and we are doing now. Charlie and Clare’s input into how we can make further improvements will be key to informing what the future looks like.
“I know I speak for the whole Committee when I say we look forward to working closely with them.”
Ms Walker is the Managing Director at the Little Big Hotel Group in Guernsey, and has been involved with the TMB since its inception as its former vice-Chair.
Ms Crowson is the Senior Partnerships Manager at Premier Holidays, which works across the Channel Islands and the UK and is a member of the Guernsey Hospitality Association.
“I’m extremely proud of the progress the Tourism Management Board has made in uniting the tourism industry,” said Ms Crowson. “With the continued support and leadership of the Committee for Economic Development, the TMB is a vital forum for collaboration, ensuring industry insight directly informs strategic direction. Following a strong 2025 season, we are well positioned to build on this success and continue developing a sustainable, competitive tourism offering for the Bailiwick.”
Ms Walker added: “Ensuring that the future strategic aims of the Tourism Management Board are ambitious is my primary focus. With the strong support of the Committee for Economic Development, I’m certain that our resilient sector will collaborate greater than ever to achieve those goals.”
2026 Grants
One of the first duties of the new co-Chairs of the TMB was to sign off on the annual grants that help fund a variety of events and activities.
Totalling £123,000, the grants, which come from the ED budget, are intended to increase growth in the shoulder months in particular.
The TMB received 41 applications for the funding, with 18 organisations receiving grants this year. They include popular long standing events like the Vale Earth Fair and the Guernsey Air Display, and new events like a ‘Beanjar Jamboree’.
Ms Walker said the number of applicants shows how much goes on across the Bailiwick each year for locals and visitors to enjoy.
“This year has seen the largest number of grant applications to date, which just goes to show how many exciting events and activities are happening across our islands and the sheer breadth of what we offer as a tourist destination.
“The Board is delighted to continue offering our support to local organisers and build on the momentum of what was a promising tourism season in 2025.”
The 18 recipients are:
- Art for Guernsey – Street Art Festival in the Old Quarter
- Arts Sunday
- Beanjar Jamboree
- Classic Channel Regatta Ltd
- Cricket – under 19s
- EDABL Seafront Sundays
- Badminton
- Barbilliards open weekend
- Guernsey Air Display
- Guernsey Rally LGB
- Guernsey Street Festival
- Heritage boat display at Arts Sunday
- La Beltane Festival
- St James Events – Global Collection Festival
- Vale Earth Fair
- Walking Festivals
- Channel Islands Pride
- Live @ the Manor2
Transport
2025 saw an upturn in ferry passengers, a new inter-island foot passenger ferry service, and an improvement in fortunes for Aurigny following its well publicised troubles of 2024.
The States of Guernsey owned airline suffered from a number of ‘black swan events’ during the first half of 2024 – leading to countless cancellations and delays. This contributed to an operating loss of £6.5million for 2024 despite carrying record numbers of passengers and making £60m from air fares alone.
Its 2025 figures will be published this summer.
The airline had entered last year with fewer wet leases booked, and its on-time performance rate is improving again.
It also reported increased bookings on some inbound services such as the Paris flights.
The Paris service and other direct European routes are continuing this year with Aurigny’s continued dominance on the Guernsey-UK market, and its new monopoly on the Guernsey-Jersey route.
Most recently, the airline announced an upgrade on Guernsey’s air links with the West Country with an expandsion of its ATR 72 fleet.
The summer flight frequency to Exeter Airport has been increased from three to five flights per week from 2 April, said Philip Saunders, Chief Commercial Officer at Aurigny.
“While fleet growth is focused on supporting strong lifeline routes to Southampton and Jersey; it also provides opportunity for enhancements to Guernsey’s connectivity via targeted enhancements across our wider network,” he said.
“In this regard, we’re very much looking forward to building on our already strong partnership with the whole team at Exeter Airport for Summer 2026, strengthening links that support tourism in both directions, from the beaches, countryside and heritage of Devon and the West Country to Guernsey’s island experiences, history and natural beauty.”
Aurigny has also announced it’s stopping its popular direct European services as it primarily focuses on bedding in its new lifeline services this year.
The airline is making this public now to ensure holidaymakers have the information they need to start firming up their broader summer plans, said Mr Saunders.
Data from an independent travel research company showed that Guernsey’s market share of ferry passengers from the UK to the Channel Islands exceeded 50% for the first time last year.
Brittany Ferries CEO said that meant the ferry firm had “a fantastic first summer” with “consistent growth” after it was granted the Guernsey ferry contract, without Jersey.
Christophe Mathieu also said that one of Brittany Ferries’ next initiatives would be “to bring the islands of the Bailiwick closer together” by teaming up with the local ferry operators to offer through-services from the UK and France.
Meetings on that, and between politicians and retailers, hoteliers, and more, took place last year, with Deputy Sasha Kazantseva-Miller, the President of the Committee for Economic Development, leading the delegations.
“Building stronger links with Brittany, and in turn France as a whole, holds so many opportunities for Guernsey both economically and more broadly,” she said.
This year Brittany Ferries has slightly amended sailing times compared to last year, 15 minutes later than its St Malo departure time in 2025.
Deputy Kazantseva-Miller said the 08:15 departure is good news, describing it as a “prime-time” slot.
Brittany Ferries is also working with Manches-Iles Express, and Islands Unlimited to improve sea travel between Guernsey and Jersey in 2026. It was confirmed separately that DFDS will also join the group, which is said to be focused on “ensuring convenient sailing times for inter-island events supporting the community’s ability to connect”.
It also agreed to explore cross-ticketing solutions in the future to make the travel process as simple as possible for sea passengers.
Deputy Kazantseva-Miller said the group will continue to meet regularly to plan schedules.
“Travel by ferry between Guernsey and Jersey is an important part of island life, and, as part of our in development-sea connectivity strategy, it is something we want to see improve in the new year. It has been excellent to see the positive response from the three operators we are working with, who showed immediate keenness to work together and develop a plan which will provide optimal sailing times to the public, and ensure events taking place between the islands are properly catered for.
Paul Acheson, Group Director, Sales and Marketing, for Brittany Ferries, said: “We have seen strong growth this year, including a 168% increase in passengers who have travelled and forward bookings to and from Saint Malo along with further improvements from Poole and Portsmouth. Building on this momentum, we are exploring ways to enhance services, including working with the other Bailiwick ferry operators to improve inter-island connections and onward travel from the UK and France.”
Olivier Normand, Sales and Marketing Director for Manche-Iles Express, said: “We are delighted to have contributed in 2025 to connectivity between the islands, but also from France. We carried 15,000 passengers between Jersey and the Bailiwick (Guernsey and Sark) and 12,000 passengers From Normandy to Guernsey and Alderney. This represents 2,500 more passengers than in 2024. In collaboration with Guernsey and the two other maritime operators, we will do our best to meet the local and tourist demand.”
Chad Murray, CEO of Islands Unlimited, said: “We’re pleased to be working collaboratively with fellow ferry operators and the States of Guernsey to improve inter-island sea connectivity, particularly in support of events, sport and tourism. Well-timed, coordinated sailings are essential for clubs, performers, supporters and visitors travelling between the islands, and this joint approach allows services to better align with the islands’ events calendars while enhancing the overall visitor experience. We look forward to continuing this partnership into 2026 and helping strengthen the cultural, sporting and tourism links between Guernsey and Jersey.”
Islands Unlimited is also busy preparing for its second season sailing between Guernsey and Jersey.
Its successful first season saw more than 27,000 passengers travel on the San Pawl.
Since its last sailing in October, the crew have been working on the boat and taking some time out before services resume in March.