Guernsey Press

Visits have given Sark a boost to its economy

AS THIS year draws to a close, I want to thank all of you who made the journey to Sark.

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Sark is so reliant on hospitality and your visiting was a most welcome boost to what, in April, threatened to be a very dismal season indeed. I have been told by accommodation providers, restaurant, cafe and shop owners, as well as Sark Shipping, that you came over in your hundreds, not only from Guernsey but also from Alderney and the Isle of Man too. Sark Shipping carried more people staying for a few days this year than it did last year, which is an amazing result. In the main we have you in Guernsey to thank for supporting us.

I was privileged to meet many of you who came to La Seigneurie to see the wedding dress exhibition. The story I heard many times, especially from those who had not been to Sark for a while, was that they had forgotten how different it was from their island, and that they were rediscovering Sark’s tranquil beauty. I was thrilled to see the island busy again after the silent isolation of lockdown we all endured in the spring. Since then your visits have given Sark a boost to its economy but more importantly to its confidence. We hope you will return next year. Sheep racing will be back, music festivals will return, new venues will be opened, new events will be created, and fireworks have been added back to the schedule.

We made many new friends and were delighted to be reacquainted with friends we had not seen for a while.

We look forward to welcoming you all back again next year. We promise we will do everything to make your next visit more memorable than the last.

This is also the moment to recognise the sterling advice and strong leadership from Guernsey, without which Sark might have been so much worse off.

Thank you all very much and I wish you a happy and joyful Christmas.

CHRISTOPHER BEAUMONT,

Seigneur of Sark