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Visitors to Guernsey from France nearly doubled this Summer, a success that could be attributed to renewed efforts to push the island's link to Victor Hugo.
Quarter three of 2019 saw an uplift of visitors of 94%, with a total of 15,838 French Nationals visiting the island. That was an additional 7,677 people.
Deputy Joe Mooney, an Economic Development member, said: “Quarter three is without a doubt the most important quarter of the year, being the peak period for visitors to Guernsey. I am delighted to see continued healthy growth in the staying visitor market, which represents the greatest value to the Guernsey economy.
“It is also particularly encouraging to see nearly double-digit growth from the French visitor market. This follows increased marketing and PR initiatives implemented in France in the lead up to and following the re-opening of Victor Hugo’s Hauteville House earlier in the year”.
Alongside the reopening of Hauteville House, Economic Development has also announced it will be pumping £25,000 of the Future Guernsey Fund into the production of a Toilers of the Sea film.
Pictured: Victor Hugo lived at Hauteville House.
After the success of the Potato Peel Pie film, it is hoped a film based on one of Hugo's novels will create a new reason for tourists to visit the island. The producers of the film also spoke about the potential of creating a permanent piece of the set on the island, which could act as a living museum after the film finishes its production.
Discussions have also taken place within the States around having a Victor Hugo Centre opened in Guernsey. A location for the centre is yet to be set in stone, but Economic Development wanted to have a central hub for visitors interested in Hugo to find out what Guernsey's offerings were.
Pictured top: Victor Hugo.
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