Flash sale to boost visitors after tourism decline

Jersey Hospitality Association chair said the market was "very nervous"

Reduced price package holidays are being offered in Jersey in a bid to encourage visitors to the island.

Jersey Hospitality Association has teamed up with the holiday industry to offer the deals in response to the falling tourist numbers.

Chair of JHA, Malcolm Lewis, said the association, Visit Jersey and deputy Kirsten Morrell put together a small sub-committee in an attempt to "uplift the business" by the end of the year.

He said the issue was not necessarily to do with Jersey itself, adding the "market is very nervous, and there is a resistance to spend on luxury and holidays and such like".

'Stars were aligned'

Visit Jersey provided funds to the sector to market and promote the offer in the UK.

Mr Lewis said the about 300 bookings were made within 48-hours of the flash sale being launched.

"It just goes to show how you can make success in such a short space of time," he said.

The chair said the year started "on the backfoot" following difficulties with the island's ferry service.

He said: "We already had the sense that the forward bookings weren't coming in... we were hopeful that the market would turn around.

"The weather was beginning to look good, Bergerac had just been released, all the stars were aligned for it to be a great summer.

"It's August now and there's still four months left of the year.

"So, we can save some of it and hopefully put in place some sort of structural groundwork or foundations to leapfrog into next year as well."

The offer will end on 3 September.