
Islands Unlimited reopens the Jersey route while Brittany Ferries increases French visitor numbers.
Figures released by Guernsey Ports for the August Bank Holiday weekend show a 62% increase in ferry passenger numbers into Guernsey.
Brittany Ferries is attracting more French visitors, around 500 passengers up on the same weekend last year.
Islands Unlimited, which has multiple daily crossings between St Helier and St Peter Port, has added around 1350 additional passengers to the route.
Assistant Harbour Master Kieran Higgs says sea travel has seen a 62% increase this bank holiday weekend:
“The timetable operated by Brittany Ferries and the introduction of Islands Unlimited’s regular inter-island sailings have strengthened connectivity, making sea travel easier and more appealing.
"The latest figures indicate increased confidence in ferry travel to and from Guernsey.”
Air travel still beats sea at 11,000 passengers over the weekend, but it is sea travel that has seen the big upsurge.
Guernsey's figures come after Jersey operator DFDS released its winter schedule, provoking criticism from chief minister Lyndon Farnham over low season connectivity, something DFDS counters.
DFDS' weekly sailing between Jersey and Guernsey does not feature in its winter schedule.
Route Director Chris Parker told us take-up over the summer had been 'disappointing'.
"When we originally talked about providing inter-island services, it the two operators (DFDS and Brittany Ferries), but of course, you have (Islands Unlimited) and Manche Iles.
"Our own numbers have been quite disappointing to be honest.
"We need to put it into a space where we can discuss it with government and then we can work through, 'what do we do?' and 'how does that fit into the overall schedules between the two islands?"