Reciprocal health deal with UK ‘could aid economic recovery’
A COMPREHENSIVE reciprocal health agreement with the UK has been touted as one way to boost the island’s reputation as a safe haven for travellers.
A task group, with representatives from Guernsey, Alderney and Sark, has been set up in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic to come up with ideas to help the tourist industry bounce back from what is expected to be the worst season since the Second World War.
Tourism, hospitality and aviation are anticipated to be the sectors most badly hit by Covid-19, with only around half of local hotel owners indicating that they are likely to reopen as soon as the restrictions are lifted.
Deputy Joe Mooney, the tourism lead on Economic Development, said staycations could help the industry this year, but he added that realistically 90% of the market usually comes from the UK, France and Jersey.
Looking to the future, Deputy Mooney believes the island’s success in taming coronavirus is important for attracting a new breed of tourist who is nervous to travel long haul and demands good hygiene and a high quality healthcare system.
‘Very much so, and not just for Guernsey as a tourist destination, but also in relation to Locate Guernsey which attracts high net worth individuals. We’ve done remarkably well and we’re pretty safe in our own bubble and the way we shut the island down has led to our speedy recovery.
‘I would be very keen to be looking at a reciprocal health agreement as well – that could aid our recovery and be very advantageous to us. It would give a lot of comfort to people who want to come.
‘When the borders come down, people will look to go on holiday somewhere, so whether they will drive to Cornwall or fly to Guernsey, that could be the choice instead of Spain and Tenerife.’
Another item on Deputy Mooney’s wish list is a Victor Hugo Centre and more investment in infrastructure, which would also help the construction industry.
On the runway extension issue, a cost-benefit analysis into lengthening the runway to 1,700m has been completed.
Last November the late Deputy Jan Kuttelwascher was successful in mandating Economic Development to carry out an investigation into the runway, at a cost of no more than £360,000, and by a deadline of May this year.
Economic Development has received the report, but has so far kept it under wraps.
Deputy Mooney thinks it should be put into the public domain.
‘The public and the tourism industry do need to know what the result of the cost-benefit analysis is. If it turns out that it is not the golden egg, that it’s not going to bear fruit, we then need to move on to the next plan.
‘What I wouldn’t like to do is for us to let it sit on the shelf and gather dust for a year or two, and then open the document in public.
‘The public needs to look at the document and make a decision on it, and if it isn’t going to work we shouldn’t waste a year hanging round wondering what’s actually in it.’
