Guernsey tourism 'still below pre-Covid levels'

About 33% fewer people visited the island during the summer, compared to 2019

The number of people visiting Guernsey is still below pre-Covid-19 pandemic levels, new data shows.

In the its quarterly travel and visitor accommodation bulletin, the government figures said 122,678 people visited the island between July and September.

That was 18% lower than the same period in 2023, and 33% lower than the 260,369 people who visited in 2019 - the final full summer season before the pandemic.

The report also highlighted a continued drop in island residents leaving during the summer months, from 75,432 in 2019 to 69,635 in 2024.

Visitor numbers have not recovered to the levels seen before the pandemic

The data is collected by the States of Guernsey though exit surveys of passengers, as well as information provided by visitor accommodation providers and Guernsey Ports.

As part of the exit surveys, visitors leaving the island by plane or ferry are asked how likely they would be to recommend Guernsey to a friend or relative.

Of those, 55% of people asked in 2024 said they would recommend the island, compared to 65% in 2019.

Visitors travelling for business purposes totalled 7,099 people, which was 18% higher than the same period in 2023, but 42% lower than 2019.

The data also showed the number of visitors staying at least one night but no more than 30 nights was 75,598 people, 2% higher than 2023; but 25% lower than 2019.

Some 13,968 people visited Guernsey on a day trip, which was lower than 2023 and 36% lower than 2019.