Extension to French day-tripper scheme may end next season

Wednesday 04 October 2023

Any extension to the French day-tripper scheme could be thwarted due to incoming changes to the UK’s border entry system, which may also prevent overnight stays being possible too.

Home Affairs told Express on Tuesday that it was looking to extend an arrangement where French tourists can enter the islands for a day using just their national identification cards into next year.

A pilot which ran from April to September this year saw thousands of extra French visitors enter the island.

On Wednesday it reaffirmed that commitment but cast doubt on a suggestion, reported by French media, that Jersey’s Home Affairs minister, Deputy Helen Miles, had confirmed the scheme would be expanded to allow overnight stays during recent discussions with French and Guernsey officials.

Deputy Jonathan Le Tocq, Policy & Resources’ External Relations lead in Guernsey who was part of those discussions, told Express that talks were ongoing with the UK and the island was “progressing this by not only continuing the scheme but by seeking to expand it if at all possible”.

But Home Affairs in Guernsey says an expansion of the scheme may be pointless due to impending changes to the UK entry requirements following Brexit, namely the Electronic Travel Authorisation Scheme.  

That scheme is due to be introduced in the latter part of 2024 as part of moves to strengthen border security. It will apply to visits of up to six months for those without a domestic passport or for those transiting through the Common Travel Area.

“It is our understanding that it will no longer be possible for French nationals to enter the Common Travel Area without a passport,” Home Affairs said.

Pictured: French visitors may require a passport to enter the Channel Islands when ETAs are introduced.

Hannah Beacom, Chair of Guernsey’s Tourism Management Board, said the pilot scheme “provided an additional boost for tourism this season.

 “I’m sure the whole industry would want to see it extended if possible.”

But she echoed Home Affairs’ concerns about an expansion of the scheme into the future because of the incoming electronic authorisation scheme being introduced by the UK. 

“If it is possible to get one more season of the day tripper scheme in before those changes occur, then this will be a further boost for our post-pandemic tourism recovery,” Ms Beacom said.

Alan Sillett, President of the Guernsey Hospitality Association, said: “We need some positive news with regards to initiatives that make travelling to the islands easier for visitors coming from France. 

“There is a huge market in that part of the world, and we need to do our utmost to make the most of the possibilities.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Le Tocq has argued that the risks to border security to the islands and the UK from the scheme are minimal.

“We have consistently maintained that we do not believe the risks to the UK border are high by such a discrete scheme being operated in the Channel Islands. Indeed, they are certainly manageable,” he said. 

“I know our French neighbours will be very glad to see the scheme expand, as indeed will those involved in our tourist industry.” 

Home Affairs said “the Guernsey Border Agency regularly reviewed the scheme to ensure compliance and would continue to do so in any extension”.

Pictured: New requirements will be introduced for travellers into the Common Travel Area from next year, due to Brexit.

The pilot allowed French nationals to enter the island using their national ID cards, rather than a passport, providing they arrived and left on the same day. 

Entry was also only permitted via direct commercial ferry sailings from Normandy or Brittany into St Peter Port, or Alderney’s Braye Harbour.

Onward travel to the UK, Jersey, or Isle of Man was not permitted. 

If the scheme is extended on the same terms, qualifying tourists wouldn’t be able to travel to the island via the proposed Guernsey to Paris air route, teased to launch next spring as part of a three-year subsidised trial.

Home Affairs said “further discussions are required with the UK before the Committee can announce the final details of the planned extension.

“The Committee wants to maximise opportunities for French nationals to travel to the island using their National Identity Cards."

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