GUERNSEY’S holiday season has got off to a great start, with the Easter weekend sunshine playing a massive part in that success. Attractions have reported improved profits over the same period last year, but it remains unclear whether visitors or locals enjoying their time off are behind the boost in trade.

Bruce Russell of Bruce Russell & Son Gold and Silversmiths said the weather had played a key part over the long weekend.

‘Business is better and people are more positive.

‘When the sun’s out, there is nowhere better to be than Guernsey.

‘We are getting a lot of locals and visitors. It’s probably been about a 50/50 split.

‘We’ve just had a couple in from Somerset spending money in the workshop and they were saying how much they absolutely loved Guernsey.

‘A lot of visitors say the Channel Islands are a wonderful place because we don’t get the crime like they do in the UK.’

Vazon Bay Cafe manager Nick Percy said his establishment had been busy for four days solid.

‘We’ve been flat out. It’s sunny and no one is working.

‘We had the sprint racing on Saturday and with it being another bank holiday on Monday it’s been extremely busy.

‘But I think it’s mainly locals. There’s a few tourists dotted about, but generally we have seen locals.’

Mr Percy believed the cafe will have had more business this Easter weekend than last year.

‘I imagine we will have done better this year, but I haven’t checked yet to compare like I usually do.

‘It’s all dependent on the weather. It always is.’

Port Soif kiosk was covered in graffiti last week by vandals, but manageress Jan Jeffrey said it had been back to business as usual by the weekend.

‘Business is pretty well up on normal. Friday was especially good and Saturday was a good normal weekend day for us.

‘We hope the weather stays like this for the rest of the summer now.’

She agreed with Mr Percy that the season had so far been locally-driven.

‘We’ve had a few tourists and seen a number of our regular visitors come back, but it’s mainly locals.’

Strawberry Farm restaurant manager Paul Makarevicius was encouraged by what he had seen during the Easter weekend.

‘It’s actually gone really well and we’ve had quite a bit of business,’ he said.

‘Things have changed quite a bit around here and people seem to like it.

‘We’ve got the facilities outside and plenty of entertainment, which keeps the families occupied.

‘But it wasn’t just the Easter weekend we were busy, we did well the weekend before that as well. People are coming here because they can sit outside and relax.

‘Parents can let their kids play while they sit back and feel comfortable.’