Last month, The Telegraph featured a review of the Bailiwick which observed an increase in the number of young travellers visiting the islands, attributing it to the Bailiwick’s appeal as a step back from the hectic pace of modern life.
‘As someone in their mid-20s, I can well understand the appeal. The islands fit neatly into a growing trend for outdoorsy holidays and so-called “digital detox” trips,’ wrote the Telegraph’s Lauren Shirreff, who professed herself ‘enthused’ about the Bailiwick’s future.
The following month the Telegraph was on the case again, this time exploring the rise in French links in Jersey and particularly Guernsey.
It quoted French expat and restaurateur Marvin Odillard.
‘We’ve had a lot more French visitors this summer,’ he said.
‘Lunchtimes used to be really quiet, but it’s been buzzing with more of a French bistro atmosphere.
‘With Hauteville House nearby, I’ve started to call this part of town the French Quarter, because you hear French everywhere. I haven’t seen fewer British visitors but more French tourists, definitely.’
Meanwhile, the Independent had a focus on watery activities.
Writer Matt Ray was keen to experience surfing, paddle-boarding and coasteering.
‘I certainly wasn’t expecting to have one of the best surf sessions of my life in the Atlantic waters off the coast of Guernsey,’ he wrote, while noting the island’s geographical connections too.
‘This self-governing crown dependency wears its Britishness on its sleeve. The street signs and country lanes, studded with pastel-painted homes, certainly look familiar, but if you stand still for a moment and breathe the place in, it suddenly feels very different.
‘The plants, wildlife and scenery have a semi-tropical vibe to them. Even the air feels softer and warmer here, reminding me that while Guernsey is 70 miles from the south coast of England, it’s only 30 miles off Normandy.’
Guernsey’s reputation as a destination for an ‘outdoorsy’ holiday may soon get another significant boost following a visit from the Wilderness Group – an organisation that offers active, experiential holidays in the UK and Ireland.
The group visited the island earlier this year with the intention of scoping out the island’s suitability for their holiday programmes.
‘We’re always looking to offer our travellers new regions to discover, especially those with rich stories and a strong sense of place. The Bailiwick felt like a natural fit – authentic, characterful, and full of hidden gems,’ said Wilderness Group head of travel Rachael Gavan.
She described her team’s primary impression of the Bailiwick as a warm and welcoming place, brimming with local pride.
‘A lovely moment came when we were admiring the currency at an ATM and a local woman insisted on giving us a £1 note as a souvenir – it’s now pinned up in our office in the Highlands,’ said Ms Gavan.
Given the local pride in the Bailiwick’s natural, historical and cultural richness that the Group observed, they suggested that, of the adventurous holiday programmes they provide, heritage-forward, ‘soft adventure’ trips – involving cultural immersion, coastal walks and foraging – would be best suited to the Bailiwick.
‘We’d be very happy to feature the Bailiwick as a destination as soon as the right enquiry comes along,’ said Ms Gavan.
‘It’s certainly still on our radar, and we’re excited about the possibilities.’
The Tourist Management Board’s annual workshop, supported by Visit Guernsey, also showed promise for Guernsey’s future as a tourism destination, with more than 70 industry representatives coming together to discuss the current tourism framework.
‘It was fantastic to see such strong engagement from across the tourism sector at this year’s workshop,’ said Tourist Management Board chair Hannah Beacom.
‘These conversations are vital as we shape the future of our tourism framework, and the feedback we received will play a key role in ensuring our approach reflects the needs and ambitions of the industry.’
Bed occupancy in October was up 7% year-on-year – the best performance for the month recorded for the past six years. Although occupancy was slightly down year-on-year in the peak summer months, for the rest of the year it was slightly up.
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