Hospitality heads plan 'Visit Safe' scheme to entice tourists

Monday 08 June 2020

Hospitality heads are planning a new ‘Visit Safe’ accreditation – similar to ‘Eat Safe’ – to improve traveller confidence as the island looks to re-stimulate tourism.

Under such a scheme, businesses would be required to check themselves against a list of requirements ensuring that they are providing a safe and hygienic environment for clients.

If they meet the criteria, they will be eligible for an accreditation, and may be subject to spot checks by individuals trained by Environmental Health and the Health and Safety Inspectorate.

The initiative is being planned by the Operations wing of the sector’s ‘Recovery Task Force’ – a group of tourism and hospitality leaders investigating how one of Jersey's key industries can adapt and continue to prosper amid the challenges of the covid-19 pandemic.

Pictured: Establishments would be able to gain the quality mark if they meet a number of health and safety requirements.

Jersey Hospitality Association (JHA) head Simon Soar has been working on the ‘Visit Safe’ charter with Stef Stevens and Jennie Smith.

The team hope that the mark will both show the government that the industry is “taking the onus on providing a safe environment for everyone”, while acting as an attractive and marketable quality for establishments that drives consumer confidence.

Minutes from a recent Task Force meeting explained that they had recently met with the Assistant Director of Environmental Health and put together a checklist for areas ranging from accommodation to wholesale, bars and restaurants, attractions and transport.

A final draft was due to be completed on 29 May.

Minutes from a recent Task Force meeting showed how the idea was based on the VisitBritain ‘Stay Safe’ mark.

Pictured: Jersey Hospitality Association (JHA) Head Simon Soar is leading the Task Force's Operations team.

“…It was decided that it is good to have something that aligns very closely with VisitBritain and adheres to the minimum UK standards (if not higher) but it is good to have something of our own, especially when marketing to markets outside of the UK, due to concerns around confidence in the safety of the UK in light of their very high infection and death rates,” the minutes read.

Planning for the scheme comes as there has been an increase in traffic to Jersey.com, with more individuals reportedly making internet searches about the island, according to Visit Jersey’s Marketing Head Louise Ashworth.

However, leisure visits to the island are not currently permitted due to lockdown restrictions on travel. Anyone flying to the island must have permission from government, with the only acceptable reasons being medical and compassionate.

Given this, the island’s key tourism promotion body is firstly looking to encourage locals to enjoy Jersey with a new month-long campaign launching this month.

Guernsey too is looking to promote ‘staycations’ as it enters the summer months under lockdown.

Pictured: Guernsey recently launched an island-wide staycation campaign.

Last week, the island's government launched a campaign entitled 'The summer starts HERE'.

It calls on Guernsey islanders to make the most of living in "one of the most beautiful places in the world", according to Tourism Lead Deputy Joe Mooney, by booking escapes to local hotels, B&Bs, self-catering accommodation and camping sites.

Then on Friday, the Guernsey Ports announced that Bailiwick pleasure boat owners can stay overnight in the Victoria Marina for a discount fee during the summer season.

The cost is £10 a night with a maximum stay of two nights under the offer, with shore electricity available at an additional £2 per night.

Guernsey’s Harbourmaster Captain David Barker explained: “Our visitors facilities are normally busy at this time of year, but the absence of visiting boats has allowed us to provide this offer to local boaters. This offer would ideally suit Bailiwick residents with a vessel that has sleeping facilities on board who are either visiting Guernsey for the weekend, or who require a central St Peter Port location.”

However, holidaying at home isn't Guernsey residents' only option - Sark has said it will allow all other Channel Islanders, except those from Jersey, to visit.