Covid, Brexit and cost of living hit travel numbers

Friday 02 June 2023

Passenger volumes in and out of Guernsey are sliding, including a noticeable decline in business travel.

In the first quarter of this year, residents leaving the island for business fell by 38% compared to 2019, from 11,088 to 6,819.

In all 44,360 residents travelled away from Guernsey between January and March, down from 57,409 four years ago.

Visitor numbers were down by 19% at 26,162.

Those visiting are staying longer in hotels, 3.2 bed nights compared to 2.9.

“While there was a reduction in leisure visitors in Q1 this year versus Q1 in 2019, residents also travelled away from the Bailiwick less for leisure too,” said a States person.

“Factors for consideration include fewer holidays being taken post-Covid (either due to lost earnings during the pandemic, general travel worries or a switch to staycations), cost of living increases."

“Covid and also the impact of Brexit has led to fewer day trip/short stay passengers travelling in this period, resulting in Condor focusing on securing passengers with a car and therefore the longer stay market, which has proved very successful.”

The figures were released in the Guernsey Travel and Visitor Accommodation Bulletin which is produced by the States’ Data and Analysis team.