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Consumer confidence is growing with tourism benefitting this summer according to Condor Ferries, as the firm releases its latest figures.
The ferry firm says its car booking figures are improving all the time, with its latest data showing that 'current carryings' and 'forward bookings' for car passengers sailing from Poole and Portsmouth to Guernsey are running 7% ahead of 2019 levels.
From France the increase is said to be 18%, which equates to a 1,300 increase compared with four years ago.
Greg Yeoman, Condor’s Commercial Director, attributed the growth to a recovery in confidence amongst consumers, joint marketing efforts and the increasing popularity of the new holiday company - Condor Breaks, launched by the ferry firm in 2021 to offer package deals.
"The forward bookings for this season we reported earlier this year were very encouraging and it is fantastic to see this continued improvement into the summer season. This shows that consumers are looking to travel with their vehicles in greater numbers than in the recent past."
Pictured: Greg Yeoman, Condor's Commercial Director.
Condor Breaks is "performing well" according to Mr Yeoman, who said that it has "doubled the number of holidays sold into the islands compared with 2022".
"In conjunction with Visit Guernsey, we have been proactively marketing the island on the continent and in the UK so the positive figures for car passengers and holiday bookings are a reflection of holidaymakers’ desire for both short and longer stays in Guernsey," he said.
"We estimate that this increase contributes an additional 5,000 bed nights this year compared to 2019."
While bookings for cars and their passengers are performing well Condor has said that the number of foot passengers has not yet reached 2019 levels after the covid pandemic.
The ferry firm said this is partially down to the requirement for French passengers to carry passports if they are staying in the island overnight.
Mr Yeoman said he is confident that those numbers will increase inline with the other positive figures, with Condor meeting its passengers needs.
"We work collectively with partners to encourage visitors to the Island and promote sea travel," he said.
"Through Condor Breaks, we are also now able to provide Islanders with hotel and ferry packages to France and the UK, so are hopeful that these positive numbers offer optimism that 2023 will be a good season for everyone."
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