French tourism leaders committed to building cultural bridges with Guernsey after delegation visit

A delegation representing various tourism leads from France have stated their commitment to developing stronger cultural links with Guernsey, after visiting for a tour of some of the island’s key tourism destinations.

The visit – which took place Wednesday 29th October and was hosted by members of the Committee for Economic Development, representatives from Alderney and Sark, and several senior officers working in the tourism sector – is part of the States of Guernsey’s continued push towards building stronger tourism links with France, following the increase in French tourists visiting the island via ferry this year.

The delegation included Adam Oubuih, the Director General of ‘Atout France’ – the country’s national Tourism Development Agency. Monsieur Oubuih was accompanied by a range of officials from St Malo, Brittany, and Brittany Ferries, including:

• Jean-Virgile Crance – Deputy Mayor of the town of St Malo
• Veronique Chauveau – Director General of Destination St Malo
• Julie Gavrel – Head of Marketing & Events for Atout France
• Christophe Mathieu – CEO of Brittany Ferries

After a group welcome at Castle Cornet, the delegation was treated to presentations from various tourism and culture representatives from Guernsey, Alderney, and Sark – before embarking on a tour of several of Guernsey’s key tourism hotspots. These included:

• Art for Guernsey and its connections with Renoir
• Hauteville House – the home of Victor Hugo during his stay in Guernsey
• The Rocquette Cider Farm
• The new Golf Performance Centre at La Grande Mare

Deputy Sasha Kazantseva-Miller, President of the Committee for Economic Development, said:

“What a privilege it was to have this delegation come and experience some of the very best Guernsey and our wider Bailiwick has to offer its visitors. From witnessing exciting plans for the upcoming Victor Hugo Centre, to seeing an original Renoir painting, to sampling locally produced cider and chutney – the visit appeared to be a hit with our French visitors.

“There are a huge range of tourism opportunities on the table for the Bailiwick through working more closely with France. We are in a key strategic location for them, between their own market and the UK and Irish markets, and with our cultural ties to France, we can be seen as both a destination, and an extension of their offering. The Committee is looking forward to continuing to build upon these positive relations with our French counterparts with major events like the Year of the Normans on the horizon.”