Jersey ranks second in list of short-break destinations

Wednesday, 29 April 2026 at 12:00

The article appears in today's Independent

There is a boost for hopes of Jersey's tourist season, according to an article in the Independent...

The island has ranked second in a list of searches for short-break destinations.

It comes behind Athens in the top 10 most searched for 'city breaks', according to analysis by British Airways for the Independent.

The paper's travel correspondent, Simon Calder, attributes it to neither destination requiring British visitors to take biometric checks for the EU entry-exit system.

He says: "Notably, neither destination requires British visitors to undergo biometric checks for the EU entry-exit system (EES). Jersey is part of the passport-free Common Travel Area, while Greece has dropped the requirement for fingerprint and facial biometrics for UK arrivals and departures."

Visit Jersey's 2026 tourism campaign focuses on the theme 9 by 5 miles - highlighting how compact, diverse, and accessible the island is for short breaks.

It is marketing The Jersey Tidal Trail, a new coastal walking experience and is also aiming to capitalise on the second series of Bergerac, currently airing on U TV.

Visitor numbers were down by around a fifth in 2025.

Uncertainty around the impact the conflict in the Middle East could also be a reason for more British visitors choosing domestic and short-haul holidays.

Top 10 searched cities (in the last 60 days) for short haul, according to British Airways Holidays:

Athens

Jersey

Rome

Barcelona

Prague

Lisbon

Seville

Nice

Paris

Gibraltar