It's time to start making an effort to welcome cruise tourists

Several of the ports had an excellent idea, which was a blue line painted on the pavements, etc., from the ship's disembarkation point to the town centre, with 'Town centre' painted on the roadway at regular intervals along its route.

There could be a blue line from the Albert Pier to the crossing at the bus terminus, then from the Town side of the crossing to the one by the Town Church and then from the Town side to the bottom of the High Street.

There is not too much of a problem finding the town but, if there was the relevant blue line then there could be, say, a red line branching off near the bottom of Cornet Street, going up to the top of Cornet Street and round to the front of the Mignot Plateau, with 'viewing/photo platform' written at intervals on the road.

So many liner passengers, especially Americans, Chinese and Japanese, are seen walking around with expensive cameras – this would give them the opportunity to take excellent photographs of their ship, the town, harbour and the other islands.

Thousands of people would climb Cornet Street, consequently it would be an ideal opportunity for the two licensed establishments at the top to encourage people to visit them. A noticeboard outside could say 'why not visit a Guernsey public house for a beer, spirit, wine, soft drink or coffee?'. One would imagine that on a hot summer's day, that might be an irresistible temptation. The Terrace restaurant/cafe/bar would also be even busier.

If thought acceptable, there could then be, say, a purple line, going from the red line at the top of Cornet Street, through Hauteville, to 'Victor Hugo's Hauteville house' written on the road. Admittedly there is limited access to Hauteville House, but I am sure people would appreciate being able to see where he lived and wrote Les Miserables and photograph the same. There should be a small notice available at the lower end of the property with his story, that he wrote Les Miserables there, and pointing out the glass canopy where he did his writing.

There could even be, say, a brown line, going from in front of the Soundtrack shop, up Market Steps, past the library and just into the bottom of Mill Street, with the 'Old Quarter' written on the pavement.

This would open the Town up to visitors.

Guernsey's top chocolatier, Ben Le Prevost, should push himself into the public domain more. Why not have a noticeboard outside saying 'Guernsey's premier chocolatier – chocolates handmade on the premises – international chocolate awards, 2014, European gold medal.' So many people don't realise what delights are inside his shop because they are looking up the hill, deciding where to go.

If they get to the top, Trinity Square, there should be very clear signage directing them across to and along Pedvin Street to Victor Hugo's. What is there at present is very poor.

Islanders would probably not want coloured lines painted all over the Town, although it wouldn't affect the character too much, as it wouldn't encroach on to any of the cobbled areas, but, if there is a problem, forget the blue, purple and brown ones, but please stick with the red. I'm sure if there was an eye-catching sign at the bottom of Cornet Street telling people to follow the red line up the street to the 'viewing/photograph platform' it would be much appreciated by cruise passengers. There could be a tourist-style map on the wall at the front of Mignot Plateau showing people the islands that they are looking at and the distance that they are from Guernsey. The area at the front of the wall would need to be kept clear of rubbish as it looks pretty disgusting at present (constables, please note).

Town restaurants selling seafood should have a noticeboard outside trying to entice passengers inside: 'why not come in and enjoy freshly caught Guernsey seafood – lobster, crab, scallops, brill, turbot?'

There could be the incentive of a 10-15% or 20% discount if they produced their cruise card (they all have to carry it as it's the only way they can get on and off the ship).

Occasionally, on board, they might be offered a lobster tail for dinner, but that probably came from the Pacific 10 years ago and has been in the deep freeze ever since.

The same kind of price reduction could be offered to Guernsey pensioners, say one day per week, or on workday lunchtimes. It might encourage them to eat out more often.

Town shops could also offer a reduction on goods to people with a cruise card. You are the business people who should be trying to encourage people to spend money in the Town, instead of saying that they are a waste of time, never spend anything, walk around and go back to the ship. The encouragement to spend should come from yourselves. Wake up.

The Albion public house could have a large notice outside saying 'come in and have a drink in the bar that is in the Guinness Book of Records as being the nearest to a church'.

The liner passengers will arrive at, and leave from, the Albert Pier. There should be an extra-large noticeboard on show there, saying 'why not come back to Guernsey on holiday and visit all of our beaches (and then list them all with relevant photographs) and the neighbouring islands of Herm and Sark (with photographs of those as encouragement)'.

Free advertising to 100,000 people – much better than paying a fortune to advertise in a Sunday supplement.

The cruise terminal building on the Albert Pier should have soft drinks and ice cream on sale. This would certainly be appreciated on hot summer days as often there can be a queue 50 yards long waiting for tenders. Souvenirs could also be sold.

Stalls similar to the ones on offer on Seafront Sundays could be situated there, although they would have to be very careful not to encroach on the beloved parking spaces.

Something that I had a letter published in the Guernsey Press about a while ago – 100,000 people arriving at the Albert Pier and one of the first things they will see is the clock opposite the bus terminus that has been stopped at 7.54 for 50 years. I did suggest it could either be repaired, replaced or removed – not too difficult, surely. Unfortunately, it just sums Guernsey up – stuck in the past, no ambition.

It would be ideal to replace it with one of the later pieces of technology that you see in tourist areas. The one that flashes alternately with the time and then the temperature.

Guernsey, you have missed so many opportunities with cruise-liner passengers over the years. Isn't it time to get your act together?

BOB STACEY,

5, Coronation Block,

Victoria Homes,

St Peter Port,

GY1 1LS.