Guernsey’s latest Q3 2024 Travel and Visitor Bulletin has revealed ongoing shifts in tourism recovery, with declining passenger numbers and evolving travel patterns.
In 2023, the States of Guernsey’s Data and Analysis Service launched a series of quarterly and annual bulletins to capture travel and visitor trends. These reports provide data on passenger movements and accommodation metrics, supported by monthly updates from Guernsey’s airport and harbour.
The latest release, the Quarter 3 2024 Guernsey Travel and Visitor Accommodation Bulletin, details shifts in travel patterns and visitor demographics.
In Quarter 3 of 2024, the total number of residents and visitors departing from Guernsey (including cruise and yacht passengers) dropped to 193,338, marking a 12% decrease from the same period in 2023 and a 26% drop from Q3 2019. While air travel accounted for nearly half (99,957 passengers) of all departures, ferry and cruise passengers numbered 60,978 and 32,403 respectively.
Visitor numbers in Q3 2024 also reflect a broader decline. Total departing visitors reached 122,678, down 18% from Q3 2023 and 33% from Q3 2019. The number of those staying overnight rose slightly (2% higher than Q3 2023), yet still sat 25% below pre-pandemic levels. Day trip visitors declined more sharply, with 18% fewer day-trippers than in 2023 and a 36% reduction from 2019 figures.
Average stays among visitors who spent at least one night ranged at 5.4 nights, collectively contributing to 408,490 bed nights, a slight 1% increase from Q3 2023 but 21% lower than 2019. Hotels remained the most popular option for overnight guests, followed by stays with family or friends, and other types of visitor accommodation.
Leisure remained the primary travel motive for 53,141 visitors, although this group declined by 5% compared to Q3 2023. Family and friend visits increased by 5% over 2023 and by 12% over 2019, showing a rise in social visits post-pandemic. Business travel, representing 7,099 visitors, has partially rebounded, with an 18% increase over Q3 2023, albeit still 42% below 2019 levels.
Accommodation occupancy rates across July to September 2024 ranged from 73% to 84%, with long-stay guests contributing 4 percentage points to September’s occupancy. Visitor satisfaction, measured by net promoter scores, revealed positive feedback, particularly from leisure and family visitors, scoring 60 and 61 points, respectively, while business visitors gave a lower score of 27.
