Tourism
The World Bowls Indoor Championships is the sort of event Guernsey needs to invest in to boost tourism, the chairwoman of the Tourism Management Board has said.
Dozens of people from more than 30 countries have been competing at the Guernsey Indoor Bowls Centre, with the event drawing to a close this weekend. They are joined by dozens more partners, family and team officials.
Tourism Management Board chairwoman Hannah Beacom said it recognised the importance of event-led tourism and had given the organising committee £5,000 of events and activities funding.
‘Our recently published framework for the visitor economy highlights the importance of developing, investing in, and promoting sports events,’ she said.
She said that Visit Guernsey had worked closely with the organising committee for months, supporting the event by helping to secure good rates for accommodation and supplying feather flags and welcome bags at the venue.
She added that Visit Guernsey was also financially supporting both the BoatLife Catch and Release Pro Boat Fishing Championships and the British Isles DanceSport Championships this year.
‘In each of these examples and many more sport events, it’s important to recognise the efforts of the organisers, many of whom are unpaid. Teams of volunteers are required to make these events happen.’
One such is Catherine Bonsall, secretary of the Guernsey Indoor Bowling Association, one of those involved in running the event this week. She said it had been quite a coup for Guernsey to host such a prodigious global event.
‘We have 58 competitors taking part and many have coaches with them,’ she said. ‘The ones from closer to home also brought friends or family, so in all I think the competition has brought around an extra 120 visitors to the island.’
She said the £5,000 grant had been a massive help with organising, food and transport costs.
Competitors have been staying at the Duke of Normandie, Pandora Hotel and Marton Guest House.
‘We have pretty much booked out the three venues with a little bit of overspill elsewhere,’ she said.
‘Visit Guernsey helped with that and negotiating a special rate and have also helped us with media and with banners to promote the event and representatives came to the opening ceremony. The welcome packs they prepared also contained leaflets from the visitor attractions, which I know some of our competitors have visited.’
Aurigny offered a fixed rate for competitors, and Mrs Bonsall said that the airline had done well in reuniting people with luggage lost in Dubai, and showing flexibility for an injured player returning home.
She said that the Island Games had been a very important test to prove that such an international event could be staged locally. It may not be the last for international bowls in the island.
‘There is an under-25 version in Hong Kong this year that we may bid for in the future and we also have three outdoor greens, so an outdoor event may be an option too.
‘Hosting the bowls at the Island Games was a great test bed for this event. Other sports and facilities may be able to use the experience in the same way.’
