Tourism defies abuse inquiry fear

Jersey tourism chiefs are now concerned about the banking crisis

Jersey's tourism market appears to have shrugged off the effects of the child abuse inquiry, figures have shown.

Tourism bosses had feared the publicity surrounding the police inquiry, which made headlines around the world, could hit visitor numbers.

But figures for the year show there was a slight increase in visitor numbers of 1.3% compared to the previous year.

However, in September visitor numbers were down 10,000, compared to the same month last year.

Short break fears

The Tourism Department said that could be down to the effect of the economic slowdown.

It said it was particularly concerned about the short-break market, which traditionally props up the industry during the autumn and winter months.

Arrivals by sea from the UK, the continent and the other islands were down by 18% in September.

And there was a 7% fall in the number of arrivals by air from the UK.

Tourism marketing director David de Carteret also believes the withdrawal of HD ferries from the St Malo route has effected the figures from the continent, where arrivals by sea fell by 17.5%.

The abuse inquiry, which started in 2006, made headlines around the world in February when police said they had found what appeared to be the remains of a child.

It was later thought they could be fragments of wood or coconut shell.

About 100 people have made allegations of abuse at a former island children's home, Haut de la Garenne, between the early 1960s and 1986.

Police are still investigating.

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