The idea of an inter-island travel ‘bubble’ between Jersey and Guernsey is being discussed by the governments of both islands. If it happens, it would be a welcome first step for the hospitality industry, says the Jersey Hospitality Association. But for tourism to recover, business must come from further afield.
‘There has been talk of a Channel Islands travel bubble and this would be a great way to restart tourism on both islands. It would be a really positive first step. The reality, however, is that it wouldn’t have enough economic impact to keep the hospitality industry afloat.
‘How and when we open our borders, the process of how we come out of this, is a huge challenge. If we’re not careful, infection spreads, and lockdown measures are increased, the impact on the industry would be devastating. Think of all the businesses that have bought stock to reopen, and put everything into this final gamble. If they were told to close again, there are some that would not survive.
‘On the other hand, the longer our borders remain closed, we are going to lose connectivity and we will lose hotels, and that will start a downward spiral.
‘If you look at an industry like finance, which attracts high-quality individuals to work on the island, Jersey offers great connectivity and the opportunity of a great lifestyle and work/life balance. But Jersey is only able to do this because of its tourism industry.
‘If we reduce the number of flights going in and out of the island, and if lose our restaurants, bars and hotels, what does Jersey have to offer? There is a symbiotic relationship between all the industries on the island. If we want finance, for example, to thrive, then we need to protect hospitality.
‘This is why we’re in constant dialogue with the government about what steps to take to get our industry up and running again. We are paying attention to what other jurisdictions are doing, seeing what work and what doesn’t. But at the end of the day, we’ve got to do what’s best for our island.’
