Guernsey saw a 5% increase in tourist numbers in 2002

Deputy Geoff Norman, president of Guernsey's Tourism Committee, said it would save money spent on advertising.

His comments come as figures reveal the number of tourists visiting Guernsey went up by 5% last year. The biggest increases were in European visitors and also from day trippers.

However, some tourism bosses say the fact that day trippers are visiting is not necessarily good news for some areas of the industry, such as hotels.

Positive sign

Deputy Norman said the island benefited from the Victor Hugo bi-centenary in 2002.

The number of visitors from the UK remained the same but more people travelled from Europe compared to the previous year.

Deputy Norman said it was a positive sign.

He also said the 2003 campaign was going well but that war in Iraq and the threat of terrorism were making people a little more reluctant to travel.

However, the president of Guernsey's Hotel and Tourism Association, Carl Symes, has said that the fact that most of the increase is from day trippers is worrying for hoteliers who still need to fill their beds.

He said this was the reality of tourism, although he does admit Guernsey is better off than most of its competitors.