Visitor numbers picking up after a slow start to year

Including cruise passengers and visiting yachtsmen, total visitor numbers were down by 1.8% on last year between January and June – 178,230 compared with 181,428.

Severe weather during quarter one was described as the main contributing factor in that decline.

Economic Development member Deputy Dawn Tindall, pictured, said there had been signs of improvement since, with the release of the Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society film likely to boost visitor travel.

‘The growth in Q2 was driven by increases during April and particularly May 2018, which was a very strong month,’ she said.

‘June performed less well due to repeated occurrences of fog and also due to the impact of the World Cup, with fewer people travelling generally.

‘Despite this, and including the tough Q1, it is encouraging that bed nights in commercial accommodation for the year to date are still on the increase.

‘With additional TV and digital advertising due to go live later this month, to co-ordinate with the release of the Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society film on DVD & Blu-ray, we are optimistic for a positive year for Guernsey’s tourism industry.’

Business travel proved particularly successful between April and June.

Staying business visitors increased by 6%, or 1,994 people, and business day visits remained stable at 2,773. Leisure day visits saw an increase of 7%, or 868 people.

However, day visitors visiting friends and relatives decreased substantially, by 43%, or 71 people, albeit from a low baseline.

There was a 5% increase in visitors from the UK (2,894), visitors from France increased by 3% (246) and elsewhere by 11% (1,164).

However, visitors from Jersey declined by 35% (2,670).

Visiting yachtsmen saw a decrease of 14.2% compared to 2017, with the number of cruise passengers increasing by 3%.

Visitors travelling by air increased by 4% (2,050 people) while those travelling by sea decreased by 1% (417 people).