On this page you can find the latest results from airport and harbour exit surveys, information on total passenger numbers and visitor accommodation, plus the latest visitor expenditure information.
Quarterly and Annual Traveller and Visitor Accommodation Bulletins began being published by the States of Guernsey's Data and Analysis Service in 2023. Earlier publications along with the latest information from the airport and harbour on passenger numbers (which are issued monthly) can be accessed via the Visit Guernsey website, here https://guernseytrademedia.com/strategy/facts-figures/.
The first (Q1 2023) Bulletin was used to facilitate discussion around what information on this topic is needed and/or useful and to gather feedback regarding how it is presented. As a result, some additional information was included in subsequent bulletins. The 2023 Guernsey Travel and Visitor Annual Report was published on the 20th February 2024 and is available to download from this page. The latest headlines are as follows:
- The total number of (resident and visiting) passengers (including any cruise and yacht passengers) departing Guernsey was 563,879 during 2023. This compares with 513,349 during 2022; an increase of 10%. However, it is 19% lower than 2019.
- During 2023, 59% of passengers departed by aeroplane, 23% by ferry and 18% by cruise ships or yachts. In 2019 the breakdown was: 60% of passengers departing by aeroplane, 21% by ferry, and 19% by cruise ships or yachts. It should be noted that the weather can impact on travel volumes and have different impacts on the different modes of transport.
- The number of departing passengers travelling by aeroplane was 332,345 in 2023, 7% more passengers than in 2022 and 20% fewer than in 2019. The number of departing passengers travelling by ferry was 128,614 in 2023, 15% more passengers than in 2022 and 13% fewer than in 2019. The number of cruise and yacht passengers was 102,920 in 2023, 14% more passengers than in 2022 and 22% fewer than in 2019.
- 62% of departing passengers were going to an air or sea port in the UK, 11% Jersey, 9% rest of the world and 18% were on a cruise ship or yacht trip during 2023.
- The total number of departing residents was 238,660; 14% lower than 2019. The number of residents travelling by aeroplane in 2023 was 18% lower than the number travelling by aeroplane in 2019. The number of residents travelling by ferry in 2023 was 3% higher than the number travelling by ferry in 2019.
- The total number of departing visitors (including any cruise and yacht passengers) for 2023 was 320,038; 23% lower than 2019. The total number of departing visitors (excluding any cruise and yacht passengers) for 2023 was 217,118; also 23% lower than 2019.
- Of the visitors: 34% were mainly visiting for leisure, 18% were mainly seeing friends or family, 9% were visiting for business purposes, 6% were visiting for another main purpose, less than 1% were long stay visitors (staying more than 30 nights but less than 1 year) and 32% were on a cruise ship or yacht trip. 48% of visitors during 2023 were from the UK, 5% from France, 6% from Jersey and 9% from elsewhere (including Alderney, Sark and Herm). The country of residence was unknown for the 32% who were visiting on a yacht or cruise ship.
- The 2023 Visitor Survey asked leisure visitors "Which of the following attracted you to visit Guernsey?". 85% of respondents cited that the natural beauty of the Island and its beaches attracted them to Guernsey. The second most popular reason was the history and heritage (54% of respondents) and the third most popular reason was the climate (40% of respondents). It also asked business travellers "When you visited Guernsey, what type of business were you undertaking?" and 46% said a small meeting/board meeting or similar.
- Results from the 2023 Visitor Survey indicate that the most popular activity (undertaken by 85% of all visitors leaving by aeroplane or ferry during 2023) was eating and/or drinking out, followed by visiting sites of natural beauty (including beaches) at 73% and walking and/or running, undertaken by 66% of respondents.
- The overall net promoter score for 2023 was 61 percentage points.
The latest available information on the expenditure of visitors relates to the year from April 2019 through to March 2020, and the headlines from the report, which can also be downloaded from this page, are as follows:
- The average spend in Guernsey per visitor was £511 for those that departed by aeroplane or ferry during the twelve months from April 2019 to March 2020. This includes spend on travel to and from Guernsey, spend on accommodation or package deals (depending on how the trip was booked), items purchased at the airport and harbour and spend on other activities such as eating out, entertainment, transport whilst on the island and the amount spent on other goods purchased in retail establishments.
- 272,460 visitors departed by aeroplane or ferry between April 2019 and March 2020, giving a total estimated expenditure of £139 million. More detailed information on the number of visitors departing by aeroplane or ferry in 2019 and 2020 can be found in Guernsey Travel Survey Reports, which are available from https://guernseytrademedia.com/strategy/facts-figures/.
- Visitors staying for at least one night for leisure purposes contributed £100 million to the total expenditure (72%). Visitors staying for at least one night to see friends and/or relatives and business visitors staying for at least one night contributed £21 million and £12 million respectively.
- Visitors from the UK (which made up 72% of the total) contributed the largest portion of the total spend (75%, equating to £105 million). Visitors from France and Jersey contributed 4% and 3% of the total spend respectively.
- 72% of the total spend came from visitors travelling by aeroplane and 28% from those travelling by ferry.
- According to the CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) (clia_state-of-the-cruise-industry-report-sept-2023-update-live.ashx (cruising.org)) the average spend by cruisers in port cities, based on a typical seven-day cruise is £84. In 2023, 79,672 cruise visitors came ashore in Guernsey. On that basis, the total estimated spend in Guernsey of cruise visitors was £6.7 million. See the Guernsey Cruise Visitor Exit Survey Report available here: https://guernseytrademedia.com/strategy/facts-figures/ for further information.
- The combined total expenditure of visitors to Guernsey between April 2019 and March 2020 was £142.9 million (this excludes those who arrived by yacht or private plane).
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