BUSINESS leaders in Alderney have called on the States to reignite the island’s tourism industry. Members of the Chamber of Commerce released their annual report last week and the lack of forward bookings for the summer season is causing them a considerable amount of concern.

Andrew Eggleston (pictured), the Chamber’s president, said: ‘We are most concerned at the lack of tourists and bookings for the coming season at a time when permission may soon be given for a further hotel with more than 50 beds.

‘This is obviously a major worry and we hope there are proactive ideas in place to increase tourist numbers.’

Mr Eggleston has suggested the States work towards catering for an extended tourist period.

He said: ‘To create more spending, the island needs to entice more tourists. The ever-thinner rope that our economy balances on is crying out for a longer and more sustainable tourist season.’

Mr Eggleston also called on Guernsey and Alderney to help reduce the cost of flying.

‘Both residents and tourists are aggrieved at the cost of air flights into and out of the island,’ he said.

‘However, the carriers cannot always be held to blame. The passenger taxes, landing taxes and massive cost of Guernsey’s new terminal are all adding to our fares – and this is States taxing.

‘If we want to maintain drive and prosperity within the islands, could not both Guernsey and Alderney States help by granting a subsidy to these taxes at uncertain times?’

My aunt and uncle visited Alderney for the first time last week and they emphasised many of the Chamber’s concerns.

They too were shocked at the cost of flying to and from the island but, more pressingly, they couldn’t believe the number of ‘closed’ signs they saw during their visit.

Bearing in mind that they were here during the final week in May, they couldn’t believe that some restaurants weren’t yet serving food and that attractions such as the lighthouse hadn’t opened.

Subsequently, their impression of the island is that it isn’t geared up for tourists at all and is certainly not suitable for holidaymakers wishing to spend more than a night here.

If Alderney is ever going to become more than a daytrip destination, it needs to begin implementing a plausible infrastructure for tourists.

A regular ferry service to mainland Europe and England would be a start and more planes, competitively priced, would also be an advantage.

The development of a marina, which boasts tourist attractions, would also help Alderney’s businesses prosper and the long-awaited overhaul of Fort Tourgis is potentially another string to the island’s bow.

However, Alderney cannot afford a poor summer and that is why the States must act now if it is to secure many businesses’ futures.