Row over island tourism marketing .

Claims Guernsey's tourism industry is not being marketed correctly
after two attractions said they were to close are being disputed.
The Strawberry Farm and Moulin Huet Potteries are closing, blaming dwindling visitor numbers.
St Peter Port Deputy John Gollop said that despite recovery signs in
parts of the market, including cruise liners and new hotels, the
industry was sagging.
Chris Elliott of Visit Guernsey said he had seen more interest in the island.

Industry reinvestment
John Gollop said tourism bosses needed to entice as many visitors as possible to ensure the industry's future.
He said: "People will go to big hotels, big resorts, big events.
"If we don't tap into that market, we'll have a season which is as short as Alderney's, which is basically July and August.
"That means that industry will not have much money to reinvest."
But Chris Elliott, the head of marketing and tourism at Visit
Guernsey, said there had been a substantial increase in interest in the
island as a result of its work.
He said: "The Visit Guernsey website is getting 125,000 a month, which is up 20% in last year and up 70% on the year before.
"The things-to-see-and-do guide is handed out to anybody who
wants it. Last year we put out a total of 50,000 brochures for the
whole of the year. By today we have put out 50,000 for this year and
that is just halfway through the season."

"Any impression that we are not marketing Guernsey is erroneous."



Do you think they are doing enough ?

We need to tidy up the island
States works do a fantastic job with the flowers the put in on the island .but the shop keepers are only intyerested in money not making there outside look good and inviting
Many hotels have done a wonderful job with planters ,
As do many residents of the island .WE are a floral island soon we are into summer floral festival week
I hope the shops are going to put a few planters out side there shops to show visiters they are open for buisness.
Paying a bit more attention to how the shop looks outside would pay dividends in the ong run!

Its all very well for Chris Elliott to say that there are 20% more people looking at the website than last year but if there are less people coming then we are not selling the island to them well enough.

I dont think the Tourist Board have much interest in the Attractions for visitors they are more interested in the Cruise ships as these boost there numbers easily.

I found it strange that The Tourist Board never even phoned up when we announced closure of the Strawberry Farm, it was of no interest to them at all, I would have expected a call even to say goodbye ;-)

By the end of the season there will be more than 2 attractions gone.

Regarding getting Tourists Here, We need to somehow get a cheapish late deal prices to offer people as thats an area of tourism on the Increase, the hotels are happy to deal but the airlines are not, we cant do anything about Flybe but should have some leverage with Aurigny.

Also I am not sure what the figures are for Carbon Footprint which seems to be an angle people are relating to at the moment.

What carbon effect is a trip to Guernsey compared with going to Spain? if figures work out favourable then I think we should use it to promote coming here.

I have been at a couple of meetings with Chris Elliott and he does seem to have a passion for his Job but I must say that the results are dissapointing.

I really dont care how many people are looking at a website only how many are booking to come here.

Re the cruise ships its all very well them saying we have thousands of people wandering around the shops but that's about all they do .I have seen them returning to the ship most of them with nothing in their hands so they have not bought anything. And to cap it all they did not even pay for ferries or airlines in the normal way.

When you are on a cruise especially a big liner you have everything you may need on board Food , shops , bars the list goes on so when they land its just to see the sights take some snaps and that's it.

I think you are correct Wayside they are not interested in tourists anymore i heard someone on the radio saying they are targeting the well off market . The amount of vistors i talk to say that Guernsey has changed ,quotes like it looks more like poole with all those glass buildings.We need to keep Guernsey special.

they must spend some money in the shops as enough trading licences are given out for their visits
And they shops want to open for them so it must pay them
They only get ripped off when laning here and going on a bus ride that costs them £££ and only cost us Pence,
But you are right in onw way ,if the cost of getting here was lower we would see many more visitors
But would the island be able to accomidate them as so many hotels have been changes into something else
I do know of a guest house who is alway fully booked even in the winter .so there are still visitors who come here out of season

Last year there were more hotels but the occupency for many of them was lower than was needed to be able to re-invest in upgrading.

When many places shut, a lot of the hotels left saw a reason to upgrade as this year the occupency for those left should be better even though overall numbers may be down.

There is plenty of rooms available except for odd weeks, The Tourist Board need to put their efforts into extending the season and pushing the winter breaks.

saw a typical couple of visitors from a cruise liner last week.they were in a shop trying to scrape together enough small change so they didnt have to have some of our money back in change.all they were buying was some chocolate and a couple of postcards.digger is right they spend very little in the shops and only come ashore to have a look around.

Most of the things theu buy ashore are cheap souveniers, cards etc, most of these big ships have better shops on board than we have ashore and food on board is all free so not much of that bought ashore.

For my money, the ONLY good reason for having the cruise ships here is to entice the passengers to come back for a holiday and to pass the word on to others that there is a place called Guernsey.