It is finally time to “unlock” direct travel to Jersey, an Alderney politician has said after welcoming the island’s new link to France.
Alex Snowdon said Alderney Ferry Service Ltd’s new route to Cherbourg from May 2024, which was announced towards the end of last year, would help improve connectivity to Europe and attract more visitors to the island.
Schedules for the new route, which will include regular daytrips and be open to all passengers with a valid passport or French ID card, will be published early this year.
While he described the news as “exciting”, Mr Snowdon said that it was “unfortunate” that there was still no Jersey link.
Currently, travel between the two islands requires a transit through Guernsey, which he views as a significant “barrier” to travel.
“If we can establish a summer link to Jersey it would only be beneficial. The Channel Islands are stronger together,” he said.
“We should be expanding and exploring connections to Jersey – it’s too off-putting going via Guernsey, so a direct link would unlock Jersey for us, and bring visitors here.”
He added: “It’s also important that air transport is a priority, especially this time of year when the boats can’t go. Any additional routes should be welcomed. Whether it is by boat or air, we need to establish any links we can.”
The Visitor Economy Strategy – published recently by Jersey’s government in partnership with Visit Jersey and other industry representatives – set out 48 policy priorities grouped under various strategic objectives, including inter-island connectivity.
It announced plans to grow inter-island travel and to work more as a “destination Channel Islands” with the potential for “greater international reach”.
The strategy reads: “Inter-island travel is currently expensive and too infrequent for travel agents to build multi-island itineraries for tourists at scale.”
It also voiced a commitment to ensure “Jersey’s life-line ferry services are resilient, reliable, customer-focused and deliver growth in passenger volumes”.
