Season all but a write off, say tourism firms
TOURISM businesses are having to adapt or shelve their operations for this summer, as they primarily have only locals to rely on.
While non-essential travel is allowed, a 14-day quarantine is still in place. And even under a planned trial next month, all incoming passengers will still have to self-isolate for seven days unless they are using the Isle of Man air bridge. These restrictions have severely stifled the tourism industry and have killed the summer cruise season.
That has been a hard hit for the businesses that rely on the tens of thousands of cruise ship visitors who normal arrive every year.
Many were usually greeted by the Petit Train, which gives tours around St Peter Port.
Owner operator Andy Furniss would normally have carried 6,000 tourists by now, on 540 tours. Instead he has only done 10 tours and carried 18 people.
But now he is moving to appeal to locals by putting on themed events, such as a ghost tour and a local food event. These had been a small sideline last year, but he hopes they might keep the business afloat until the tourists return.
‘It’s a case of surviving through to next April and that’s what we have got to do,’ Mr Furniss said.
He said the States’ business support and co-funding scheme had been vital in keeping the business going so far and he was now looking to keep costs down. That includes doing all work himself.
New business Tuk Tuk Guernsey launched this year, with three tuk tuks, each able to carry two passengers. They were aimed at the tourist and cruise ship market, operating from the Albert Pier.
Tim Bean from Tuk Tuk Guernsey said the company had been able to alter its licence to instead offer staycation meal tours.
Tours are licensed to start from either the Albert Pier or from a person’s home, if no more than one mile from the licensed route. The route is predominantly around Town, but includes Fermain Bay and Jerbourg.
The changes have caused some challenges, including the need to get different insurances.
Mr Bean said it was unfortunate timing, because, as a new business, they had a lot of overheads.
He added that even with local support, he doubted it would bring in enough to cover all their costs, but he was hopeful it would keep them afloat until next summer.
Not all tourist businesses will be operating this summer.
This would have been Tour Guernsey’s third season offering Land Rover tours. Business owner Andy Taylor said the vehicle would be staying in the garage this time as he looked to focus on his coffee business instead.
He said he was fortunate he did not have many overheads, so he should be able to restart next summer. He is hopeful about next year.
‘We’ve already had a lot of enquiries coming in for next year,’ he said.
‘I’m holding off on taking too many for next year as I want to see where things go before committing to anything.’
JP’s Jetski Safaris normally offers trips between June and October but the delays and uncertainties of recent months have meant the operator has been forced to take other work and said on social media that they would not be offering trips this year.
‘With all the overheads associated with running the seafaris it’s just not commercially viable to do a short season,’ they posted, stating that it had been a difficult decision.
