Jersey Scraps Outdated Hotel Rules to Boost Tourism Flexibility

Hotels in Jersey are no longer bound by certain long-standing legal requirements, after the government moved to scrap what it described as outdated rules within the tourism sector.

Under the changes, accommodation providers will no longer be obliged to maintain features such as chambermaid pantries or netted curtains. Other provisions dating back to the 1990 tourism law have also been removed, including minimum bedroom requirements for hotels and fixed meal service times.

Regulations affecting campsites have also been updated. Visitors are now permitted to stay in a wider range of accommodation types, including cabins, lodges, huts, pods and campervans, rather than being limited to tents.

Michael Barnes, director of the Beausite Hotel, welcomed the reforms, describing the previous rules as unnecessary.

“Regulations that have been in place for decades are naturally going to become outdated,” he said. “Removing them gives businesses the ability to adapt, particularly as the industry evolves.”

He added that the changes would support innovation in an increasingly digital marketplace, where travellers have more choice than ever.

Meanwhile, Kirsten Morel, Minister for Sustainable Economic Development, said the revisions were designed to reduce bureaucracy and boost the sector’s competitiveness.

He said the updated Tourism Order would allow accommodation providers to modernise their offerings, invest more effectively, and enhance the overall visitor experience.

The government believes the reforms will help businesses operate more flexibly, improve profitability and strengthen Jersey’s appeal as a destination for tourists.