Hotelier says permits are suicide for tourism

LIMITING the number of years seasonal workers can return to the island would be 'suicide' for Guernsey's hospitality and tourism industry, a leading hotelier has said.

La Grande Mare Hotel owner Simon Vermeulen, pictured, yesterday described proposals from the Population Policy Group, aimed at managing the size and make-up of Guernsey's population, as shortsighted.

It would see a system of short-term permits issued for up to one year, with the possibility of extending for a maximum of three years continuous residency. However, once the worker left the island they would not be able to reapply until they had spent the equivalent amount of time elsewhere.

And in a move heavily criticised by Mr Vermeulen, the PPG wants to limit to five years the amount of total time a person can be in Guernsey on a short-term permit during their life.

'People think that anyone can come in and cook a meal - it doesn't work like that,' he said. 'Our staff have to be highly trained and skilled. It can take up to a year for workers to understand how to do the job and pick up the language.'