We shall address cost of air travel
Efforts to address the cost of air travel will be a major focus for Guernsey Chamber this year and towards the next island-wide election. The need for ‘competitive fares’ was the strongest outcome of a joint survey with the IoD.
Chamber believes that the cost of flying to and from the island is having a negative impact on both business and more broadly with families affected.
Chamber and the IoD plan to build on last year’s survey and collate more information from the membership and possibly beyond to ensure that politicians are totally aware of the strength of feeling around this topic.
The organisations have asked Deputy Lyndon Trott, who said he represented the view of all of P&R, to disclose what research formed the basis of his comments that ‘frequency’ was the main issue. Chamber and IoD are not aware of any other public survey having been carried out.
Chamber has noted Deputy Trott’s comments on behalf of P&R that the committee will be coming back to the States.
Chamber has also heard from those in food retail that security of supply needs to be addressed, with transport logistics causing issues for the sector and potentially the island as a whole.
The year looks set to be a particularly busy one for the membership organisation, with a host of new initiatives launched and a commitment to encouraging talented young islanders to return here.
Chamber has adopted health and wellbeing as a pivotal part of its focus on work throughout the island and now has a new steering group dealing specifically with this. Ongoing projects include an investigation into the removal of red tape in business and encouraging an enterprise culture.
The level of new member sign-up increased substantially during the last quarter of 2018 and a high level of inquiries is continuing to be received. Chamber has restructured and developed its member benefits offer. Attendance at the monthly lunches set record levels last year and the January lunch, with Gavin St Pier, sold out before Christmas.
The organisation believes that the strong level of interest in being part of Chamber will help the membership group to lobby strongly on behalf of a major percentage of the island’s working population.
Details on how to join are on Chamber’s website.
