Rocquette Cider has announced a record year for visitors to its farm and orchards.
The Guernsey-based business welcomed more than 3,000 visitors in 2019, up 20% on 2018. The increase is due to more tourists, shore excursions from P&O and Cunard and weekly parties of German holidaymakers.
‘We are delighted with the feedback from visitors and it is a real boost to be told by passengers from the various cruise ships that they have read about us on TripAdvisor before they get here and that the tour has lived up to their expectations,’ said manager James Meller.
‘We hope that the island’s visitor numbers remain strong and that essential air and sea links will support our commitment to developing the touristic side of our business.’
The tours were launched as a sideline activity to cider making and were initially aimed at island residents. Rocquette Cider has spent the last three winters working on improving their facilities for visitors, including the construction of a custom built observation beehive which enables viewers to see up close the bees that pollinate the orchards.
‘We want to make the tours as informative as possible for visitors and we will continue to develop our offering,’ said Mr Meller.
‘There have been a lot of changes here and l believe our regular guests have enjoyed watching the evolution.’