- Business owner says tourism investment must continue
- Comments follow news that the Tourism Development Fund may be dissolved next year
- What is the Tourism Development Fund? Find out more below
- Do you think that the Tourism Development Fund should be re-allocated funding by the States? Take part in our poll
INVESTMENT into Jersey’s ‘struggling’ tourism industry must continue, a business owner has said following the news that a States-backed fund is under threat.
Carlton Le Feuvre, owner of the Amaizin Adventure Park – which was awarded £300,000 by the Tourism Development Fund in 2014 – said cash injections were vital to create further ‘great successes’ within the sector.
He spoke out after it was revealed yesterday that the TDF, which has also provided grants to projects such as the Island Games and the Folklore Festival, may be dissolved next year as it was allocated no funding under the States’ three-year Medium Term Financial Plan.
The TDF received £500,000 per year from the States between 2013 and 2015, but now has £174,000 left to allocate to new projects and will not be holding its usual review of applications for grants this autumn.
Economic Development Minister Lyndon Farnham said that he hopes money from his department, or from £20 million allocated in the MTFP towards economic growth, can be used to back future projects, but warned that there ‘won’t be large sums like there was’.
Mr Le Feuvre said that although he appreciates the restrictions the States have on spending as a result of a projected £145 million deficit by 2019, he believes that continuing to back tourism projects will boost the economy and attract further investment.
‘Investment into a struggling industry can stimulate economic growth, which benefits Island society, as well as visitors,’ Mr Le Feuvre, who used his TDF grant to develop the park’s play barn, said.
‘There have been some great success stories backed by the TDF – which has always been used as an enabler – with a large proportion of investment coming from the recipients of grants.
‘While the grants don’t take the risk from a project it allows a business, such as ours, to take a financial leap – and knowing that a process is in place to assess the viability of the business development gives us, and any further funding providers, the confidence to invest and lend accordingly.’
The organising committee of the NatWest Island Games received £70,000 from the fund last year for mobile seating.
Committee chairman Phil Austin said: ‘I think the Island Games has shown that we can attract visitors to the Island.
‘I’m sure the States will continue to want to support the tourism industry, one way or another, through the TDF or other ways.’
The chairman of Visit Jersey, Keith Beecham, said that Jersey needs to build confidence in itself as a tourism destination to attract more investment.
‘We appreciate that there are financial constraints on the States at the moment and you have to balance what projects you want to do with what resources are available,’ he said.
‘But if we can create confidence in Jersey as a tourism destination that will attract investment – both from the public and private sectors – into tourism projects.’
- The Tourism Development fund supports organisations through investing in events, projects and marketing activity that will attract visitors to Jersey and stimulate the Tourism Industry.
- It was established by the States of Jersey in 2004 to encourage and support tourism in the Island.
- Over the years the Fund has made over 115 grants totalling in excess of £5.6 million in support of many successful events, projects and infrastructure developments covering the spectrum of tourism initiatives.
- The Fund is overseen by the Tourism Development Fund Advisory Panel, made up of members of the private sector.
- Panel chairman, Peter Funk, said: ‘Tourism is vital to our economy and the role of the Tourism Development Fund is to support the industry. The Panel are delighted that we are able to consider applications from private as well as non-profit organisations or individuals with good ideas that will bring more visitors to Jersey and improve our already rich Tourism offering.’
- The Fund is open for applications twice a year, in Spring and Autumn.
- Organisations wishing to apply to the Fund should be able to demonstrate that their events or projects have the potential to bring more visitors to the Island, in particular in the shoulder months, to attract additional funding from other sources, to create jobs locally and to be sustainable in years to come.
