20 March trade update

Last week, we had the pleasure of attending the inaugural Destination Partnerships Forum at British Airways’ Head Office near Heathrow.  
 
It was a fantastic opportunity to hear directly from key leaders across their business, who shared insightful updates on BA’s evolving sustainability programme, their £7 billion transformation programme, and the exciting direction of their marketing strategy.

Interestingly, the success of a route can be influenced by the destination itself, which is why we’ll be working closely with the BA team to help advertise the flight, and utilise it, alongside other carriers, as part of our visiting journalist programme, including via European connections.  
 
As well as hearing from BA, VisitBritain also presented, sharing valuable perspectives on destination promotion and the wider opportunities for UK tourism. 
 
It’s an exciting time to be working closely with British Airways and we’re very much looking forward to the new Heathrow route launching on 19 April. 

In early March, once again in partnership with Visit Jersey, we attended the ITB - Europe’s largest travel trade show - in Berlin. The show provided a fantastic opportunity to showcase what makes our islands unique and was a real reminder of the strength we have when we work together.  

Collaborative, joined‑up promotion of the Channel Islands helps us tell a richer story, amplify our reach, and unlock new opportunities that benefit both destinations, particularly into the European markets, who we know want to experience all our islands.  
 
We had successful meetings with multiple German tour operators, particularly around developing 2027 product. We’ll now be supporting them to programme twin centre trips to Guernsey and Jersey for 2027, utilising the new BA route through Heathrow (which is well connected to Germany) and the improved inter-island air and sea connectivity.

The interest in the Channel Islands as a combined, complementary offering continues to grow, and it’s exciting to see partners looking ahead with genuine enthusiasm.

The Islands of Guernsey Travel Trade Summit, taking place from 18-20 May 2026, will celebrate and strengthen relationships across the travel trade. This multi‑day event is designed to inspire collaboration, provide valuable business updates, and create new opportunities for contracting and networking, whether  you’re based in Guernsey or joining us from off‑island. 

The core business day will take place on Tuesday 19 May. Please note, you must register to attend. 

Across the summit, you’ll have the opportunity to gain insights into Guernsey’s travel trade landscape, connect with key on‑island suppliers and off‑island travel trade partners, network and build meaningful, long‑lasting business relationships, showcase your products and services and explore new opportunities to grow your connections with the Islands of Guernsey. 

Stay tuned! We’ll be sharing more event details soon, including official invites and registration information. 

We’re sharing our 2025 End of Year Report, and it’s been a really positive year for Guernsey tourism. We’ve seen strong growth across digital channels, big wins with our carrier partners, and a real shift towards higher‑value visitors. 

Marketing campaigns delivered great results, occupancy held steady with real gains in the shoulder season, and younger audiences continued to engage with wellness, outdoor adventure and heritage content. Key achievements were the 27% increase in website sessions, a 69% increase in French visitor numbers year-on-year, and visitor spend into the economy rising to £151 million.  

The report also covers PR highlights, influencer activity, cruise developments, trade engagement, and our refreshed branding; it’s a great snapshot of how the islands’ visitor economy is evolving.

Thank you to everyone who has expressed interest in the Ambassador Scheme: we’ve been delighted by the fantastic response. Over the next few days, we’ll be reaching out to confirm an initial training date with those who have registered their interest.

Whether you’re a large organisation or a small independent business, there are plenty of ways to get involved in the Ambassador Scheme.

Associations and bigger businesses can download the training slides from our website and adapt them to fit their existing staff programmes, while industry groups can also run their own sessions to support independent traders. Smaller businesses and sole traders are still welcome to contact VisitGuernsey to discuss tailored training options.

Follow the link for more information, or to download the training slides.

The Big Eat is almost here! Cheese passports are ready for the Grande Fromage Tour, and 20 special menus are now available to browse on the website. We’ve also created the Big Eat Extra for events that don’t fit our original themes. From the airport to the harbour, and even at Sir Charles Frossard House, giant Big Eat posters are welcoming visitors. 

As part of the festival, Islands Unlimited is offering a 10% discount on sailings from 16–19 April. If your event or menu falls on these dates, get in touch to discuss any special offers you’d like to include in our Jersey campaign. 

With 41 events already confirmed, this is your final chance to join, or let us know if your event needs a little extra spotlight. Please email Bori at borbala.halasz@gov.gg.

To help champion our islands’ independent businesses, we’re giving away up to four free placements (worth £200) in our special offer emailers, sent to 60,000 people looking to visit the Islands of Guernsey. 

Whether you’re an activity provider, eatery or accommodation provider, share the details of your special offer (including start and expiry dates, high quality imagery and how to book) with jo.dyer@gov.gg before 5pm on 25 March 2026.

Think added extras, exclusive discounts or unique experiences, whether that’s tasters, workshops, guided walks, special access or local insights.

Don’t forget, current boarding permits expire on 31 March!  

If you haven’t yet submitted your application for 2026, please do so before the end of the month: Sign in · Customer Self-Service 

Permit fees for the upcoming year are:

Visitor accommodation: £11.50 per bed  

Private accommodation: £68 per annum 

Please make your payment as soon as your application is submitted.