A pan-island survey conducted by Island Global Research has found 43% of the nearly 1,000 Guernsey residents who completed the survey were happy with sea travel, compared to just 23% in 2019.
In Jersey the figure was just 10%, compared to 24% seven years ago.
And while in Guernsey the highest levels of satisfaction were with sea travel links (43% compared to 23% in 2019) in Jersey this was only 10% (24% in 2019).
Satisfaction with the cost of sea travel had also risen locally, to 39%, up 17%, and that number was also reflected with satisfaction over the choice of destinations available.
Islanders also said they were happy with the reliability of sea travel – 43% was up 20% on the 2019 result.
In the skies, the picture was clouded somewhat. 11% of Guernsey people were happy about the cost of flying, down just 1% on the 2019 score, while nearly three quarters of respondents, 74%, said they were dissatisfied and very dissatisfied.
Views on reliability and the choice of destinations had also declined markedly, both down more than 25% at 25% and 32% respectively.
Satisfaction about services in the Isle of Man, which was also included in the survey, tended to be below the Guernsey figures, apart from on the cost of flying.
As ever, islanders across all three jurisdictions were not overly happy with their transport options, and across all three islands, fewer than half of respondents had a high level of confidence that off-island travel links would meet their future needs.
The most common complaints related to the price and unreliability of air travel. Many felt costs were particularly high for families and may be discouraging visitors, with potential negative effects on the visitor economy.
‘These findings highlight the need for ongoing investment, clear planning, and open communication to help ensure our islands stay well connected and supported in the years ahead,’ said IGR managing director Lindsay Jefferies.
‘Residents across the Crown Dependencies continue to have concerns about the reliability, cost, and long term resilience of off-island travel links. Guernsey’s sea travel performs comparatively well, but overall levels of satisfaction and confidence in future provision remain low.’
Guernsey provided the greatest number of respondents to the survey, 985. There were 722 from Jersey and 756 from the Isle of Man.
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