Talks will be held after concerns were raised in the Assembly yesterday about the risk of uninsured day-trippers needing medical care while in the island.
More than 43,000 day trips were made to Guernsey last year, nearly a third more than the previous year, and a fifth higher than the year before that, as the new deal with Brittany Ferries helped lead a mini-revival in tourism.
Health & Social Care president George Oswald hoped numbers would continue to increase but warned of the need to plan for the consequences.
‘I have a concern that at some point one or more of our very welcome French day visitors will have an unexpected medical crisis on-island,’ he said.
‘I stand to be corrected but expect many of these visitors will not have medical insurance.’
Deputy Oswald suggested setting up a local version of the ‘carre neige’ scheme in place across ski resorts in France.
It provides insurance against accidents and illness for holidaymakers, at a cost typically ranging from a few euros for a day trip to about 30 euros per day for visits lasting a few weeks. He asked if the Economic Development Committee could consider offering something similar now that the island was seeing an increase in the number of short-stay visitors.
‘I must say we have not thought to consider that as part of our committee’s work,’ said Economic Development Sasha Kazantseva-Miller.
‘I would very much like to take it offline and discuss it further with the Health & Social Care Committee.’
Deputy Kazantseva-Miller also said that her committee would welcome proposals for more projects funded on a similar basis to the Victor Hugo Centre, which is due to be developed in the former States office at the North Plantation and anticipated to be a major draw for French visitors, including day-trippers, once it opens in 2028.
It was revealed last month that the project had hit 75% of its fundraising goal, with £5m. donated or pledged by private individuals and businesses and a £2.5m. grant agreed by the States.
One of the financial supporters of the project, Deputy Jennifer Strachan, asked if Economic Development wanted a pipeline of similar schemes.
‘The Victor Hugo Centre is an example of a visionary community project – one of many starting to emerge,’ said Deputy Kazantseva-Miller.
‘We want to develop more tourism products, not only tourism products but cultural products, which can follow the public/private partnership model. I am very keen to discuss such opportunities further with Education, Sport & Culture because we own a lot of heritage assets and there is an opportunity there, and we would welcome project proposals like that.’
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