28/04/2014 BBC Channel Islands News

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Good evening. Two more hotels in Jersey have

Two more hotels in Jersey h`ve become victims of declining visitor

numbers. Eulah Country Hotel closed its doors at the start of the year

and now Samares Coast Hotel could be replaced by houses and flats. What

does it mean for the island's tourism industry? Emma Chambers

reports. Jersey in its tourism peak during

the 60s. The beaches were btsy and the 60s. The beaches were btsy and

the hotels full, but a lot has changed over the decades. Figures

show in 1992 there were 24,770 bed spaces in Jersey. Fast forw`rd to

2013 and that number has more than halved ` to 11,779 spaces. Now even

more have been lost. Eulah Country Hotel closed in January due to a

lack of demand. The owners `lso had an application for a wedding centre

refused by Planning, so they an application for a wedding centre

refused by Planning, so thex say the business was no longer viable. And

now this hotel on St Clements Coast Road could follow. The company who

Road could follow. The comp`ny who own Samares Coast Hotel says

significant reduction in visitors meant it couldn't justify more

investment there and now wants to replace the building with homes and

flats. So what needs to change to attract tourists?

With the air fares, most people just cannot afford it.

It's not worth it because you can go somewhere far more exotic for half

the price. You have got to put things here for

people to come and see. A proactive approach has been

people to come and see. A proactive approach has bedn taken

A proactive approach has been taken by a group of hotels calling

themselves Luxury Jerse. Thdy felt they had to take it upon themselves

they had to take it upon thdmselves to attract visitors by combining

marketing forces. We have seen continuing decline over

the years. You can get into a very negative downward spiral. We

the years. You can get into a very negative downward spiral. Wd thought

negative downward spiral. We thought that by working together we could

seek to reverse that process. We all know these days have long

gone but, with more hotel space turning into home space, will it

ever return? So, is tourism a dead industry in

Jersey? Earlier, the minister Jersey? Earlier, the minister

responsible, Senator Alan M`clean, joined me in the studio and gave his

reaction. We need to put it into context.

We need to put it into contdxt. Clearly there has been a difficult

training period over the last few years. We have seen a flight towards

policy other is investment going on in this market. That indicates that

the industry in stealth still has confidence but some of the hnvestors

are struggling. `` the industry itself.

One thing that is always brought up is how expensive it is to fly to

Jersey. Why can't we bring the air fares down?

We did identify the fact that we fares down?

We did identify the fact th`t we are We did identify the fact th`t we are

not that expensive to get to. In comparison to many other

destinations, we are not th`t expensive.

A return flight to Jersey c`n be A return flight to Jersey can be

hundreds of pounds in the UK. Yes but with the introduction of the

likes of EasyJet we have worked hard to invest in that relationship.

There are genuinely low`cost fare is available from the UK to Jersey

What is your message to people working in the hospitality industry.

working in the hospitality hndustry. Are their jobs safe?

We certainly hope so. I belheve We certainly hope so. I belheve

there is a strong future. We We certainly hope so. I believe

there is a strong future. Wd are there is a strong future. Wd are

seeing world tourism increase by over 4%. We are taking a new

approach. We point to the Tourism Shadow Boards to come up with a

plan. The inquest into the death of Colin

Chevalier opened today. The 46 year old's body was found at his home in

St Helier earlier this month. Jersey Police have launched the island's

Police have launched the island s first murder investigation in three

first murder investigation hn three years Sophie Sulehria was in court

for us. Sitting here in Morier Housd,

for us. Sitting here in Morier House, Deputy

Sitting here in Morier Housd, Deputy Viscount Mark Harris heard that the

body of Colin Chevalier was found at his home address at 10pm on the

evening of the 5th of April. He was pronounced dead by paramedics just

over two hours later. Finger print analysis took place at the scene,

but it wasn't until 10pm on Sunday sixth April ` nearly 24 hours later

after the police were called ` that he was identified. 35`year`old

Darren Neil McCormack has bden Darren Neil McCormack has been

charged with his murder and will appear in court on the 16th June.

The inquest has been adjourned pending those criminal procdedings

pending those criminal proceedings and Colin Chevalier's body released

for a funeral. A man charged in connection with the

theft of ?300,000 of jewellery from a Guernsey shop appeared in court

today. 46`year`old Martin J`mes today. 46`year`old Martin James

Shell is charged with dishonestly receiving stolen goods, including

two diamond rings worth ?6,400. It follows a robbery at Paints the

Jewellers on Good Friday morning. Mr Shell entered no plea and has been

remanded in custody. Guernsey's Prison Governor says the

island needs a detention facility for young offenders. More than 00

people aged between 16 and 86 were sentenced to time in Guernsey Prison

last year, according to its annual report. And five people under

last year, according to its annual report. And five people unddr the

report. And five people under the age of 16. Prison Governor David

Matthews says they should bd Matthews says they should bd

rehabilitated somewhere else. rehabilitated somewhere else.

One of my concerns is keeping children in custody. We havd five

children in prison at the minute for children in prison at the mhnute for

fairly serious crimes. There needs fairly serious crimes. Therd needs

to be somewhere to place children but it is not an adult prison.

I would say that the island should have some facility if there is a

need to lock a child up. I realise that it doesn't h`ppen

I realise that it doesn't happen often, just now and again, but I

would suggest that we need a would suggest that we need a

facility for children. That it from us tonight.

Now for the weather. We've got some reasonable weather to look forward

to, but we will probably see showers to, but we will probably sed showers

at some point, though mostly at some point, though mostlx

overnight. Mainly dry with some outbreaks of rain. Mild with light

winds. The showers have been creeping closer through the day.

Very light winds over the ndxt 4 Very light winds over the next 24

hours or so. Tomorrow morning we will have some showers at ldast for

will have some showers at least for the first half of the day, but

gradually they will fade aw`y. the first half of the day, but

gradually they will fade away. Into gradually they will fade aw`y. Into

the afternoon it will be largely dry with sunny spells. Temperatures

around 12 or 13 degrees. Thd outlook around 12 or 13 degrees. The outlook

is still unsettled but I thhnk we is still unsettled but I think we

will see some daytime sunshine. Some brighter weather on Wednesd`y with

some rain overnight into Thtrsday. Good night from us. I leave you with

the summary. Thursday and then it wild turn euch

cooler aq Thursday and then it wild turn euch

cooler as we Thursday and then it wild turn euch

cooler aq we go ifto the Thursday and then it wild turn euch

cooler as we go into the bank cooler aq we go ifto the b!nk

holiday weekend. Hello, I am going to throw some

numbers at you first of all. 22 Celsius was the temperature recorded

at Aviemore making it the warmest day of the year so far. At the other

end of the country, this cloud has produced a lot of heavy and thundery

downpours. A lot of rain falling in one hour at Hurn airport. There are

some showers around the Bristol Channel. There will be so increasing

amounts of mist, fog and low cloud. Tomorrow starts grade, Misty and

murky in most places. We will see the Sun breaking through in Cumbria

and the North. You