Travel agency heads off into the sunset
GUERNSEY is losing one of its last travel agents, as Trafalgar Travel announced it is closing down after organising holidays for islanders for more than 40 years.
The agency has been based at Picquet House near the bus terminus since 1983.
Manager Charlie Coyle said that it was with a very heavy heart that the business was stopping taking new bookings with immediate effect. The agency would then be going through a controlled close before shutting down at the end of May.
‘The decision to close wasn’t an easy one, however with recent trends to online bookings and increased overheads, we have had to make this very sad and tough decision,’ he said.
‘As you can imagine this has been very difficult for staff at this time, however we all remain 100% committed to ensuring a very smooth transfer of bookings to another agency.’
Mr Coyle has written to reassure customers that current bookings were protected and in safe hands.
‘Existing bookings travelling before 1 June 2025 will be dealt with normally by the team at Trafalgar Travel.
'We will reach out to finalise your arrangements and provide you with your travel documents as normal,’ he said in a letter to customers.
‘All existing bookings travelling after 1 June 2025 will be transferred to an alternative agency and we will reach out to you to advise of the change shortly.’
He said he wanted to take the opportunity, to wholeheartedly thank islanders for their support over the years.
‘Every booking has been a pleasure for us to manage and your support has meant we have continued to do the job we all love doing all these years. We can’t thank you enough.’
The agency may move from Picquet House at the end of this month to its parent company’s offices at Travel House, near the top of Smith Street, but this was yet to be confirmed.
Guernsey Association of Travel Agents chairman Jamie Blondel said it was sad to lose another island agency.
‘It means that only two shop-front agents remain, ourselves at World Travel and Wayfarers,' he said.
'They have been a presence in the island for over 40 years, but they are owned by a larger group and it appears the owners have taken the financial decision to close. It is a real shame for the island and the sector.
'It is very sad to lose another member and we wish all the staff there the very best.’
According to statistics website Statista the number of travel agency shops in the UK has declined from more than 4,200 in March 2019 to just less than 3,500 in June 2023 – a drop of nearly 18%.
