Monday 10 September 2012
Guernsey's tourism industry is working together on a joint promotional marketing initiative to run throughout March and April next year.
"Tasty Walks" will take visitors on guided tours around some of Guernsey's best loved sites and scenery as well as allowing them to sample excellent local produce at the end of each walk.
'Tasty Walks' will comprise 35 walks throughout March and April. Each walk is followed by a meal at a local eating establishment.
The Bailiwick of Guernsey Guild of Accredited Guides will lead four walks a week, throughout March and April, each with a maximum capacity of 30 people taking part.
Annette Henry, as Chairperson of the Guild and one of the guides said:
"This is a great chance to show visitors the hidden gems of Guernsey. We have so much to tell them about our beautiful island's history and heritage and we are thrilled to be a part of such a great event."
The walks will include "A Stitch in Time" on Mondays, which will focus on St Peter Port, and include a visit to the Guernsey Tapestry. Walkers will then enjoy an evening meal at a venue or venues yet to be decided. "A West Coast Wander", taking place on Saturdays will allow walkers to explore all that the West Coast has to offer, before stopping off for lunch. "Uninvited Guests - The Reich, The Writer and The Royals" on Tuesdays and Thursdays will tell tales of the occupation, Victor Hugo as well as Queen Victoria's unexpected visit to the island, and give walkers an opportunity to climb Victoria Tower. Visitors will then get to stop for Guernsey Cream Tea.
The tour operators who currently programme Guernsey have already been approached, and many have included this initiative into their overall marketing campaigns by including it in their brochures as well as future online activities which will help broaden our sales mission further.
Beverley Scarr, General Manager for Short Haul Products at Premier Holidays said:
"We are always looking for new ways to promote the shoulder months and grow our business outside the peak summer months. This new initiative offers the visitor something else to do in March and April and hope it will be a great success, we are delighted to promote it."
Running alongside this main initiative, restaurants and other eateries have been asked to join in and celebrate the excellent local produce that Guernsey has to offer to locals and visitors.
Peter Falla, Marketing Director for the Culture and Leisure Department, said:
"Taste Guernsey will use the expertise of the industry to showcase the best of local produce on the island asking eateries to create Guernsey themed menus to allow visitors the chance to sample local flavours throughout the island'.
The out-of-season offers a perfect opportunity to encourage new visitors to Guernsey. At the last industry seminar held in April visitor economy representatives asked the Department to look at ways of attracting visitors to Guernsey in winter and spring.
The Commerce and Employment Department has listened and responded by looking at ways to drive new business to Guernsey during this time, by combining walking and food offerings.
This two month long event requires many strands of our industry to work together to ensure its success. These include tour operators, carriers, the Bailiwick of Guernsey Guild of Accredited Guides, hotels, restaurants as well close working in collaboration with the Culture and Leisure Department.
Tony Dawson, Consumer Marketing Manager for the Commerce and Employment Department said:
"It is fantastic to see such strong support from all areas of our industry, coming together in the development of this exciting programme".
Those involved will then be included in promotional material distributed to both on and off island residents, with links to the menus and details of the Tasty Walks programme. The aim of the campaign is primarily to attract off-island interest and to act as a "hook" to hang these promotions.
Other areas of interest and details of attractions for visitors to experience during their holiday will also be highlighted.
It is also hoped that tourist attractions that might usually be closed at this time of the year would open a little earlier to help bolster the product offering and further advance the overall visitor experience. It is important that all parties work together to demonstrate, in such competitive times, that Guernsey is very much open for business and has an excellent product offering for our visitors to sample.
Ends
Detailed information on each walk can be found below.
Contact information:
Tony Dawson
Consumer Marketing Manager
Commerce and Employment Department
Tel: 01481 234567
Peter Falla
Marketing Director
Culture and Leisure Department
Tel: 01481 709708
Details of Walks
"A Stitch in Time" - St Peter Port through the ages
· Mondays: 4, 11, 18, 25 March, 1, 8, 15, 22 April
· Start: 5.30pm at Town Church, Finish: 7.30pm at Guernsey Tapestry
· Travel back to a bygone era with a leisurely walk over old cobbled streets & down narrow alleyways, as your guide takes you on a town walk through the ages. From Roman times to present day, the history of the old fishing port, intertwined with the lucrative Privateering Era and trade made the Merchants immensely wealthy. The tour finishes at the highly acclaimed Guernsey Tapestry where you will be guided through a thousand years of island life
· Meal venue yet to be decided
· Price:
o £11.50 - walk (£3.50 entrance fee to tapestry included)
o £12.50 - meal
o Total: £24
"A West Coast Wander"
· Saturdays: 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 March, 6, 13, 20 and 27 April
· Start 10.30am at Portelet Bus Terminus, Finish 1pm at Portelet Bus Terminus
· The west coast is as beautiful as it is wild. The rugged coastline, scene of many a shipwreck, reveals its rocks and reefs as the tide ebbs from the gently shelving beach. 19th century forts, a walk through National Trust to Land's End to the "fairy ring", steeped in local folklore, are all part of the unique experience during this guided tour. The chance to visit other important historical sites in this area can be discussed with your guide.
· Meal venue to be decided although will likely be the Imperial
· Price:
o £8 - Walk
o £12.50 - meal
o Total: £20.50
"Uninvited Guests" - The Reich, The Writer and The Royals
· Tuesdays: 5, 12, 19, 26 March, 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 April
· Thursdays: 7, 14, 21, 28 March, 4, 11, 18, 25 April
· Start: 1.30pm at Liberation Monument, Finish: 4.00pm at Victoria Tower
· In 1940, nearly half the population of Guernsey were evacuated at the start of war. The same number of uninvited Germans occupied the island for 5 long years. The literary genius Victor Hugo fell in love with the island, leaving a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy. But it was a totally unexpected visit by the reigning Sovereign which proved to be such a joyous occasion in 1846, resulting in the building of Victoria Tower, which you will have the chance to climb at the end of the tour. Discover more about Guernsey's uninvited guests during this fascinating walking tour.
· Afternoon tea venue yet to be decided
· Price:
o £8 - walk
o £5.50 - Guernsey Cream Tea
o Total: £13.50
