Our complacency over visiting cruise ships is dangerous

In that time I believe very few cruise ships were scheduled to visit Jersey. Now the Guernsey Press on 13 February informs us that this year we can expect 95 ships, though not all of them will arrive, and Jersey looks forward to receiving 13.

Jersey admits that ships of this size must moor further out to sea than in Guernsey and therefore the transfer of passengers is more difficult and takes longer so we have the advantage – at present.

Because of the difficulties which Jersey experiences it seems to me that an air of complacency exists in our tourist industry as though our management of cruise passengers cannot be improved and therefore possible competition from nearby is not even a possibility.

This is a dangerous assumption. We must be conscious that Jersey is well aware of the potential value to the economy of cruise ships and their passengers and if they so decide they will build a berth to accommodate them, even if the cost is huge. Jersey has much to offer cruise passengers – a larger, equally beautiful island with more attractions and, if they put their minds to it, the money to make the most of them. They could well decide to provide berthing for large ships, to our massive detriment.

We should be seeking a way to allow liners to come closer in and land passengers with more speed and less inconvenience, even if it means at considerable cost. It will be an investment because the increased safety and better facilities will encourage more ships to come, not fewer, with the consequent benefit to our economy.

This combined with the plans to rejuvenate the seafront will be a great attraction and to our lasting advantage.

B. MAUGER,

St Peter Port.