French ID scheme will have limited impact – tourism boss
A return of a scheme to allow French nationals to make day trips to Guernsey using their National Identity cards will not make a big difference to the local hospitality sector, a tourism boss has said.
The scheme, which can only be used on direct commercial ferry services, will now run until the end of September 2024.
The pilot scheme this summer saw an extra few thousand French nationals travel to the island.
Guernsey Hospitality Association president Alan Sillett said this was a good news for the island, but it would have a limited impact.
‘We appreciate there are complexities around post Brexit rules, which creates certain limitations that Home Affairs are having to deal with,’ he said.
‘However, with the average day-tripper spend of an estimated value of £35, it is not going to make much of a difference for the hospitality sector, who are ideally trying to attract the higher value overnight-stay visitor.
‘This extension will hopefully mean that the Victor Hugo House does see an uplift in numbers coming through their door next summer season.’
The property was home to the Les Miserables author in the 1800s.
Guernsey’s Tourism Management Board has been approached for comment on the scheme.
Home Affairs has had to work with Jersey and the UK Home Office to broker the deal.
Committee president Rob Prow said the trial had shown the benefits.
‘The pilot scheme this summer helped bring a significant number of French nationals to the island, which has clear benefits for our tourism industry,’ he said.
‘As such we were very keen to extend it for another year but wanted to ensure we had fully briefed and engaged with the UK about our plans.
‘We hope this extension will provide a further and welcome boost for tourism.’
However, the scheme can only last until the UK rolls out its new Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme to include the EU, which is expected to be late 2024.
After that French nationals will not be able to enter the Common Travel Area without a passport.
Condor offers regular day trips between Jersey and France, but rarely from Guernsey.
French ferry company Manche Iles does offer day trips throughout the summer, connecting Guernsey to Dielette.
It was contacted for comment.
The company normally publishes its ferry schedule in January, and then operating sailings between France and the Channel Islands throughout the summer. This includes day trips.
It ended its 2023 service in later September, but has posted that it would be resuming services in April 2024.
