ID card scheme for French day-trippers to continue

Politicians have voted unanimously to continue a scheme which allows French day-trippers to visit Jersey using ID cards, rather than ports.

The ID card scheme was introduced in 2023 when the number of day trip visitors dropped after Brexit because rules meant visitors needed ports.

Despite the scheme being in place for two years, there has been uncertainty about its future due the UK introducing electronic travel authorisation for visitors.

Deputy Sir Philip Bailhache, who brought forward the proposition, said "many French citizens do not possess a port and rely upon their identity cards".

Mr Bailhache has welcomed the States decision to continue the scheme.

He said: "I'm delighted that the assembly has agreed that the home affairs ministers should consider the concession in force and it will be of great assistance to our tourism industry."

He added the decision was important because French day trippers had given a boost to the tourist economy.

"The estimate is that French day-trippers spend about £4.5m a year in Jersey, so this is clearly good for our restaurants and shop keepers," he added.

Home affairs minister deputy Mary Le Hegarat said she ed the proposition but warned counterparts in the UK were not ive of the scheme continuing.

"We have had a letter which basically says they are not ive of it, but for us it is about balance," she said.

Ms Le Hegarat added: "We will be speaking to the UK again about the matter in person, I will go with the external relations minister so we can have those discussions about Jersey's economy and our tourist industry and how we move forward, because it is important we do that.

"It's critical for us to manage our economy and I'm hoping that the UK can see the evidence from the years we have been running this that it works well and it's not a risk to the borders and safety."

In her ministerial comments on the proposition the minister said if the UK had concerns about the scheme which Jersey was unable to mitigate, it could lead "in a worst case scenario, which is considered unlikely, in the implementation of a hard border between the UK and Jersey."

The BBC has approached the UK Government for comment.

Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to [email protected].