And Adam Caerlewy-Smith, head of marketing at Visit Jersey, says the increase represents the most dramatic year-on-year rise in the number of staying leisure visitors for those months for 20 years.
According to Visit Jersey’s figures, a total of 78,600 people visited for one or more nights from January to the end of April. That equates to an increase of 12,800 compared to the first four months of last year.
Mr Caerlewy-Smith said that although the figures were yet to be fully analysed, the outlook was encouraging.
He said: ‘I don’t believe we’ve had growth like this for 20 years. There’s lots of positivity around for the summer season and beyond. January to April was our off-season, so this means people are choosing to come to Jersey in what are traditionally our quiet months.
‘It’s testament to all the hard work of the tourism industry – they are working as hard as we are to market the Island and to make sure that people who come here have a fantastic experience.’
Mr Caerlewy-Smith said that factors including Brexit and Jersey’s family-friendly character will, in all likelihood, have helped to influence people’s decisions in choosing to holiday in the Island.
