The island’s ‘new’ ferry operator has contributed to a significant boost in sea passenger numbers this summer, as St Malo has overtaken Poole to become the busiest sea route into the Bailiwick.
Brittany’s services have been well timed for day-trippers from France. French nationals are currently able to make day trips to the Channel Islands using just their national identity card which has boosted tourism as about half the country’s population is believed not to own a passport.
The ID card scheme, which has been in place since 2023, was originally due to end in September.
Home Affairs officials have extended the Bailiwick’s scheme until the end of the year, and asked the UK government if it can be stretched further still, into 2026.
‘Extending the ID card scheme into 2026 would be a very welcome move,’ a spokesman for Brittany Ferries said.
‘We will continue to develop key links with France. We also aim to support the island’s tourism economy by encouraging longer stays and further developing inclusive holidays.’
A threat to travel on ID cards could be the island’s expected adoption of a version of the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme at some point next year.
Alan Sillett, president of the Guernsey Hospitality Association, was among those to express concerns.
‘Due to our close and historical connections with France, plus the recent strengthening of the relationship between us, it would be positive if we could find a way to continue the upwards trajectory in visitor numbers,’ he said.
Ant Ford-Parker, chairman of Guernsey Tourism Partnership, said that French visitors make welcome tourists, who show enthusiastic interest in the island and bring a different market for the industry.
‘It’s not only boosted the tourism industry, but the whole morale of the island,’ he said.
‘Particularly in Town, everything’s got a real feel-good atmosphere. It’s bustling, there’s more people spending money and enjoying it.
‘We’re happy to adapt and provide for the French market.
‘They do things slightly differently and it’s a joy to see.
‘They travel all over, even out west, touring around on their bikes. They are so interested in Guernsey and it has been a delight to have them here.
‘I do hope that Home Affairs can sort this out for the future and maybe even expand it – we should definitely be looking at our relationship with Europe. It certainly would seem like the ETA scheme is not a forward step.’
Overall there has been a 6% increase in passengers passing through the harbour, compared with the first half of 2024, with 45,000 passengers on the St Malo route, making it Guernsey’s busiest sea route, and making up a third of Guernsey harbour passengers on routes from outside the Bailiwick. To the end of June last year it was 27,000.
There has also been an increase in traffic from Dielette with Manche-Iles Express.
The UK began implementing an ETA scheme in April, with a staged roll-out. EU nationals now require an ETA, at a cost of £10, to travel directly into the UK.
Guernsey and Jersey had previously expressed an interest in joining the ETA scheme, as it aims to secure the Common Travel Area borders.
Home Affairs president, Marc Leadbeater said he expected that Guernsey could have joined the ETA scheme by next spring.
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