Taxi drivers feeling impact of reduced corporate travel

The grip of Covid-19 on tourism is lessening, but many business people, both those coming in and going out, are still staying at home.

Leon Gallienne, the president of the Guernsey Taxi Owners’ Federation, said the easing of border restrictions had meant business had picked up.

‘Since 1 July there has been an increase in business because of more tourists, but this is our summer period so we would expect that, hopefully there will still be visitors coming to the island during our winter months.

‘Our main concern going forward is that the corporate business has not returned to the pre-Covid volume, so that’s got to be monitored and looked at and acted upon as it pans out.

‘Although tourist business has increased, the main bulk of our business is the corporates, and that’s still well down from where it used to be, and some drivers are concerned about where that’s going to go.

‘There’s no proof that it will go back, and that really is our chief concern.’

Policy & Resources has announced this week that the payroll co-funding scheme will close at the end of next month.

The visitor accommodation scheme and the visitor attraction scheme will continue until the end of March 2022.

For businesses which still need ongoing support the business disruption loan guarantee scheme is available until the end of this year.

The taxi industry is one sector that will be affected by the closure of the payroll co-funding scheme.

Mr Gallienne said that decision had not come as a surprise.

‘We appreciate that they have looked after us well over the last 18 months, and I understand that moving forward they want people to learn to live with Covid.

‘So we have to try to get back to normal working and living, and that is well recognised by everybody within our industry, but there is concern that there will be changes.

‘With the present volume of visitors coming to the island and our increased business, the decision from the States has not come unexpectedly.’

Amid the uncertainty over the future of business travel the States has promised a review of the taxi and private hire industry to consider everything from fares to licences.

Mr Gallienne said the review was thoroughly welcomed by the industry.

‘We’re pleased that they’ve made a decision now that they are finally going to put the review at the top of the list and move forward.

‘We’re not to worried or concerned about it, we think it could only help us plan our way forward for the industry, and hopefully it will happen quickly and we’re keen to see the results.’