First sailing offers 'a lot to look forward to'

A tourism chief has welcomed Jersey's new ferry operator after it completed its first sailing on Friday.

Malcolm Lewis, chairman of the Jersey Hospitality Association, said DFDS "wants to make the route work and if it works, that means numbers and numbers are good".

DFDS won the government contract to operate sailings for the next 20 years but had to cancel its first passenger service on Thursday with less than 24 hours notice.

Siân Williamson, from Barry Island, Wales, was a passenger on Friday's sailing and she told BBC Radio Jersey it had been "a good experience".

She said: "Other passengers who travel regularly said they've [DFDS] had to pull everybody from everywhere to make it all work - and they did it.

"It was really good, I was really impressed."

Alistair Jones had booked a holiday in Jersey and was another passenger on the inaugural sailing.

He said: "It was great, there was free champagne when we got onboard, the staff were lovely and it was a smooth crossing.

"I'd ride with them again."

Mr Lewis said DFDS had "strong marketing capabilities" and had pledged to work with Visit Jersey to increase the number of tourists to the island.

"I think we have a lot to look forward to," he said.

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