Guernsey should 'focus on tourist economy'

Guernsey has been advised to develop its tourism sector as part of its future economic strategy, in a report by Oxford Economics.

The Commerce and Employment Department commissioned the report to provide a basis for a draft Economic Development Strategy.

Neil Gibson, its author, said: "Lots of people now are not able to afford the transatlantic holidays they had before.

"They're starting to put Guernsey back on their list."

He said overall the island was in a good position: "Much of what it has been doing in recent years does not need to be changed.

"A lot of people are looking for fresh ideas, new strategies, when actually a lot of the report endorses the direction the island has been going."

Other recommendations made in the report include expanding the airport, improving the promotion of the island's IT services and focusing on emerging economies.