Little Ferry service brings 1,000 first-time visitors to Alderney

Friday 26 April 2019

Alderney's economy is "turning the corner", with the launch of a new ferry service and a boutique hotel giving cause for optimism.

Policy & Finance Committee James Dent was speaking after the publication of statistics about the island's economic performance during 2018.

The report shows that the population rose by 1.7% and the total number of people employed was up by 2.3%. There were eight new employers on the island and property sales rose by 11% in comparison with 2017. Property prices were also on the rise by about 6%.

Passenger movements to and from Alderney rose by 4% and the Little Ferry service added almost 3,500 passenger movements, 26% of whom were first-time visitors to Alderney. It was first launched last year and is being re-subsidised by the States of Alderney this year for an extended summer season. 

The report also highlights some important investments in Alderney's economy which include a new luxury hotel due to open later this year. Tax income from individuals has risen by 8.5% since 2015, although the overall tax income was affected by volatility in relation to company and dividend taxation.

Mr Dent said there were some clear signs of encouragement.

"The figures demonstrate that we have turned the corner and things are improving. We recognise that these are small steps and we have a long way to go, but there are strong signs that the economic climate continues to improve into 2019.

"The announcement of Aurigny's disinvestment in Alderney is a hard blow to take when confidence is increasing elsewhere. The loss of the Operations activity will set back our recovery, and will take away the tax income from seven people which was going into the Bailiwick pot. But we're determined that this won't overshadow the positive news around our economic performance."