Harbour visits up to 80% pre-Covid levels

In total, 441,000 travellers went through the port in 2022, compared with 550,000 in 2019.

Poole remained the most popular port at 85,000 passengers.

The Jersey sea route had 38,000 passengers – half the pre-Covid levels of 78,000.

While the number of passengers to St Malo has halved compared with 2019, Condor started a service to Cherbourg last year. There were 81,000 travellers in 2019 to St Malo and a combined 65,000 last year to St Malo and Cherbourg.

However, services to the smaller port of Dielette have been harder hit, with numbers dropping from 19,000 to less than 6,000.

In terms of inter-Bailiwick travel, Herm was the busiest route, with more than 79,000 travellers. The Herm service has actually seen numbers climb, with 72,000 in 2019, 65,000 in 2000 and 63,000 in 2001.

Sark’s numbers have remained stable, with 54,000 last year and 53,000 the year before.

Alderney’s ferry service faced a tough time last year, with the Little Ferry Company dropping out of the market and the two new operators – Salty Blonde and Alderney Ferry Services – both suffering technical problems during the summer season. That hit passenger numbers accordingly, with more than 5,200 in 2021 and 2,000 last year.

Cruise ships returned for the first time since 2019, but numbers were down. There were more than 79,000 travellers, compared with 112,000 in 2019.