Recently announced Q2 2017 visitor figures show that Guernsey’s staying leisure visitor market is on the up with an 8.3% increase on the same period in 2016.

The 8.3% increase equates to 48,850 leisure visitors compared to 45,100 leisure visitors in Q2 of last year, with visitors from the UK representing 68% of this total mix with an increase of 5.6%.

Other positive news was shown through the increase in duration of stay. The average length of stay is up 2.2% which equates to 4.44 nights compared to a previous average of 4.35 nights. This also means a total bed-night growth of 10% with the total bed-nights up from 287,650 in Q2 2016 to 316,550 in Q2 2017.

Both air and sea travel have shown growth in this period. With the continued popularity of the Aurigny jet service (ex-Gatwick) and the frequent services from London City, London Gatwick and regional airports air travel has grown by 0.8% with 51,950 visitors using air travel as their preferred means of travel compared to 51,550 in Q2 2016.

However sea travel has seen the largest rate of transport growth with an 11% increase with 35,850 passengers arriving by sea using the Condor Ferry option, which transports visitors from Poole to Guernsey in three hours and Portsmouth to Guernsey in six hours.

Mike Hopkins, director of marketing & tourism, VisitGuernsey.said: “We are delighted that the leisure travel market is continuing to grow. The leisure market is increasingly competitive and price driven so it is encouraging and positive that our unique island is able to grow against this backdrop and that Guernsey’s attributes continue to appeal to increasing numbers of tourists.”