JERSEY could see an influx of French tourists once again next summer after ‘significant progress’ was made over the use of ID cards for travel, the External Relations Minister has said.
The number of visitors from France has plunged after post-Brexit travel restrictions made it more difficult for Europeans to visit the UK and the Crown Dependencies.
However, following recent discussions with the French Minister of State for Europe, Laurence Boone, and the French Secretary of State for the Sea, Hervé Berville, in Paris, Deputy Philip Ozouf says he is confident that the problems can be resolved.
The reintroduction of passport requirements – after the UK’s withdrawal from the EU – left many in France unable to travel to the Island, as only about 50% of French nationals have passports.
Previously they could enter Jersey using an ID card.
Deputy Ozouf raised the issue of identity cards before a House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee earlier this year, when he said that visitors from the country had dropped off a ‘cliff edge’.
Speaking to the JEP yesterday, he said that the subject ‘was discussed at length’ during his meeting with Ms Boone and Mr Berville, adding that he was ‘very encouraged by the direction of travel that this is going in’.
‘I realise the importance of this, to both the Jersey tourist economy but also to the Normandy economies.
‘Our tourist economy and visitor economy has suffered immensely . Our restaurants, our hotels, our retailers, our high street, our ferries, our visitor attractions – all of these things have suffered immensely because of the dramatic decline in French visitors. That is why I have been putting such huge emphasis on trying to find a solution,’ he added.
Asked how soon the use of ID cards could be reinstated, he said that ‘significant progress’ had been made.
‘If this decision can be finalised and put over the line, it will have a very significant impact on next year’s tourist season,’ he said.
‘There is still some dotting of i’s and crossing of t’s to be done.’
He said that the issue was important to the French in terms of aiding ‘sustainability of their sea routes’, of which he said the most important was that operated by Manche Iles Express.
‘It’s incredibly important that Manche Iles Express survives and survives well – the Normandy regional individuals have made it very clear that Manche Iles Express is unsustainable without a solution [to this problem].’
Deputy Ozouf said the opportunity to discuss mutual areas of interest with the French secretaries of state face to face was ‘invaluable’.
‘We made progress on several matters that may not have been possible otherwise. I would also like to thank the British Embassy in Paris for their continued support.’
