The idea is being floated by the tourism lead on the Economic Development Committee.
Deputy Lee Van Katwyk said he was personally very keen on the concept, and wanted to make sure that it was fully assessed as part of work carried out on the island’s new tourism strategy.
‘The last full tourism strategy was in 2015 from the then Commerce and Employment Committee, so we are looking at making up a whole new strategy that will include potential product investment grants alongside events and activities grants,’ he said.
The tourism lead said that such grants could cover a range of projects, such as opening up the natural beauty of the island to make it easier for visitors to access it.
But he accepted that, with a squeeze on States spending, there would need to be a hard-headed appraisal of the concept before public money was spent in this way.
‘We really do need to weigh up the economic benefits, the jobs it is going to create, the income it is going to bring in through that, when we look at how to spend our money, whether it’s on events, activities or the basic tourism product.’
Deputy Van Katwyk said that such taxpayer pump-priming of projects to improve the tourism offer in the island, would compliment the large amount of private investment currently being seen in the island’s hotel and tourism sector.
Currently the only grants offered by the States for the tourism sector are spread around from a pot of £123,000. This year that was shared between 18 events and activities, primarily sports and arts events, some which fill hundreds of bed nights and others primarily aimed at staging events for visitors once on-island.
Economic Development has also offered direct funding to the operators of Islands Unlimited for its inter-island ferry service and to British Airways to subsidise the island’s daily Heathrow link.
The Guernsey Hospitality Association, in a new 10-point plan for the visitor economy, has called on the States to reduce planning barriers to tourism development, enabling the industry to unlock private investment and to support investment in key attractions, including the proposed Victor Hugo Centre, and to advocate for policies that encourage private sector investment.
It also wants to see the government champion the delivery of a seafront enhancement area programme to strengthen the island’s appeal and enhance the visitor experience.