A more sustainable future

VisitGuernsey recently participated in a sustainability workshop hosted by the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce, aimed at supporting the Retail and Hospitality sectors in transitioning to a green economy.

Led by sustainability expert Rollo de Sausmarez, the session provided valuable insights into how small businesses in Guernsey can thrive in a low-carbon future. Given VisitGuernsey’s enthusiasm to forge close collaboration with local retailers and hospitality providers, our involvement was a natural step toward supporting the island’s broader sustainability goals.

The workshop highlighted how sustainable practices can drive customer loyalty, reduce operational costs, and build long-term resilience. Key opportunities discussed included eco-tourism, sustainable sourcing, and the importance of mitigating risks such as rising costs and reputational challenges.

With Guernsey’s legally binding commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050, and an interim target of a 57% reduction by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, sustainability is no longer optional. It is crucial.

Government policies such as the Energy Policy, which outlines a transition to 90–100% renewable energy via the French electric cable, and initiatives around nature conservation and recycling, will also shape the future of sustainable tourism on the island.

The workshop has prompted VisitGuernsey to develop a more detailed sustainability roadmap, with short, medium, and long-term goals that we can monitor and report against. Our approach will focus on strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and policy alignment, and we’ll be exploring ways in which our work can increasingly align and support with the islands’ sustainability commitments, with the aim of producing plans by the end of 2025.

We believe a positive sustainable visitor experience should be built around four key pillars: transport, food, on-island experience, and accommodation, and will look to align our plans with the sustainability charter currently being developed by the Tourism Management Board. 

VisitGuernsey is committed to working more sustainably and will encourage local businesses to explore their own opportunities for improvement. We recognise that many are already leading the way, and we look forward to learning from their best practices to strengthen our collective impact.

If you would like to find out more about how your business can become more sustainable, please get in touch with the Sustainable Business Initiative Co-Leads at the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce, by emailing rollo@un1ty.gg or alex@seagreensolutions.com, or have a look at the sustainability resources on their website https://guernseychamber.com/sustainability/