Travel Disruption Blamed as Jersey Visitor Spending Falls £24m Short
- Apr 2
- 2 min read
Visitors to Jersey spent £24m less in 2025 compared with the previous year, according to a government progress report reviewing its £20m living wage support scheme.
The report revealed that overall visitor spending missed its annual target by £37m, with officials citing travel disruption linked to the appointment of the island’s new ferry operator as a key factor.
Government officials said reduced UK consumer confidence and delays in ferry ticket sales also contributed to the decline. The delays were caused by a legal challenge following the awarding of a new ferry services contract.
The report stated: “Visitor spending was affected by low levels of UK consumer confidence and a delay to ferry tickets going on sale. This was due to a legal challenge made against the government's award to a new ferry operator contract.”
In 2024, the government awarded a 20-year contract to Danish company DFDS to run Jersey’s passenger and freight ferry services. The process faced setbacks after the collapse of a joint tender with Guernsey and a failed legal challenge from French operator Brittany Ferries.
Despite the drop in visitor spending, the report highlighted several positive outcomes in business productivity. A total of 183 local businesses received grant funding during 2025, and for every £100 provided, £140 in private investment was secured.
Apprenticeships also met expectations, with 431 registrations recorded across the island — within the annual target range of 400 to 450.
Tourism-related measures also showed encouraging signs. Investment in the Bergerac television series was credited with influencing 9% of visitors — around 42,000 people — to travel to Jersey. Additionally, the average visitor stay increased to 4.6 nights in 2025, exceeding targets by 12%.
The report also noted support for low-income workers, with 247 individuals who had not yet reached five years’ residency receiving one-off payments. These totalled £72,000, well below the maximum allocated budget of £300,000.
