Jersey risks losing hospitality businesses and air routes by withdrawing support just as thousands of extra airline seats go on sale, the industry’s representative body has warned.
The Jersey Hospitality Association has described the proposed 2027 Budget as “a cut presented as a pause”, arguing that help is ending while costs continue to rise and potential relief is pushed back to 2028.
In a submission to three Scrutiny panels, it estimates that money available to market the Island could fall by almost half compared with 2025 unless additional funding is replaced.
The warning comes as Jet2 has almost 155,000 seats on sale for next summer across eight routes – treble its previous capacity, according to the submission.
“Our industry cannot be asked to absorb another year of rising costs and withdrawn support while the plans are drafted, because that year will decide which businesses, and which routes, are still here when the plans arrive,” the association said.
The JHA, which represents more than 200 members covering over 300 businesses, is calling for up to £5 million to be transferred from existing government funds to Visit Jersey for 2027, or at least for its 2026 funding to be protected.
It also wants £1 million in route-development support continued and alcohol duty frozen.
The association says the Better Business Support Package ends in December, removing £2 million for Visit Jersey and £1 million for route development through Ports of Jersey.
Its marketing forecast assumes Visit Jersey retains its £4.72 million core grant and staff and operating costs remain unchanged. On that basis, it calculates that marketing funds could fall by 46% to 48% against 2025.
However, the submission notes that Visit Jersey’s accounts state that funding for 2027 and beyond “has not been agreed”.
The JHA argues that support is being withdrawn as tourism shows signs of recovery, citing a 9% rise in overnight leisure visitors in the first eight months of 2026.
It also challenges the proposed 2.8% alcohol-duty increase while fuel duty is frozen, saying a £600,000 alcohol-duty freeze would fit within the projected £703,000 operating surplus.
Although it welcomes a review of duty relief for pubs, hotels and restaurants, it says the timetable means no relief before 2028 at the earliest.
The association supports household tax relief and targeted help for financial services, but wants similar consideration for hospitality.
It also criticises the absence of tourism and hospitality from the proposed Common Strategic Policy, despite ministers describing the visitor economy as strategically important.
“What is missing is the line in the document and the money behind it,” it said.
The JHA has offered to help States Members draft amendments, saying: “What matters is that the money is there when the seats are, not whose name is on the amendment.”
