Plans to "overhaul" VisitGuernsey

Thursday 05 November 2020

Economic Development will be working with various committees to "overhaul" the way Guernsey is promoted to potential visitors as part of a strategy to revitalise the island's tourism sector.

Committee President Neil Inder presented a general update outlining its goals for the future. One of its key objectives, he said, was to improve Guernsey’s ‘tourism product’ through significant investment.

“We have got to maximise the reasons why people come here,” he explained. “Victor Hugo attractions, our World War Two heritage, and a wide range of accommodation, including camping and self-catering, will help to drive that.”

Working collaboratively with other committees will be necessary to deliver on its objectives, according to Deputy Inder. To that end, he intends to form partnerships with P&R, E&I and the DPA to discuss matters such as the use of heritage sites and coastal kiosks.

But he also said that officers were reviewing the States’ marketing and tourism contracts, once again floating the idea that VisitGuernsey could become a public-private partnership, or perhaps an LGB.

Pictured: ED President Neil Inder will be working with Committee Member and Home Affairs Vice-President Simon Vermuelen, a former hotelier, on the recovery of Guernsey's visitor economy

“The Chief Executive officer of the States of Guernsey has often repeated "there are things that government just shouldn’t do," said Deputy Inder. “My view is that providing marketing services for tourism is one of them.”

Deputy Inder also announced an Accommodation Strategy which aims to both ensure the island has appropriate bedstock, and enable closed hotels to change their use to "benefit the wider economy".

These plans are supported by the Policy and Resources Committee, which, according to President Peter Ferbrache, is working on its own Accommodation Strategy to deal with "unused hotels that are never going to return to the industry."

“I understand that Economic Development is accelerating an Accommodation Strategy that will support this,” he said. “We will, therefore, work closely with the President of Economic Development and the DPA’s President.

“We need practical action. I will take the lead on that, and I will revert to the States in the next three months.”

Policy & Resources will be looking at bringing people to Guernsey by other means as well, according to Deputy Ferbrache. 

“We still have substantial funds available from the Bond,” he said. “We want to use those in a proactive and sensible way. We believe that medical tourism, once our border is opened, is something that should be a significant financial contributor."