They may have read the book and seen the movie, but now may be the time for travel agents and tour operators to sell the destination.
That destination is Guernsey, an island off Great Britain that is the setting for a 2008 bestseller called "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society" and the recently released Netflix movie of the same name.
The book and movie are about the five-year period when Germany occupied Guernsey during World War II, the only U.K. territory occupied during the war. They follow the story of a free-spirited journalist who forms a bond with the eccentric Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, a book club that united islanders through literature when German soldiers controlled the island.
While the main tourism market has been the U.K., (the island is not part of the U.K. although its defense is handled by that country) according to Wendy Pedder, marketing manager for Visit Guernsey, there is a significant effort to attract U.S. visitors.
For one, there are now packages that encompass locations featured in the book and movie with stays in hotels offering special film-themed packages. One is being done by Condor Ferries, which operates the ferries to the island (condorbreaks.com). Also, the Old Government House, a luxury property, has a package that includes accommodations, a themed dinner and a copy of the book.
Guernsey is the second largest of the Channel Islands and is situated 75 miles south of mainland Britain and 27 miles from the north coast of France, which long ago had control of the island. Guernsey, and smaller Channel Islands Herm, Sark and Alderney, are open to the public. Two additional islands-Jethou and Brecqhou-are privately owned whilst Lihou is owned by the Guernsey government.
Aside from the "potato peel" sites featured on themed tours and walks, Guernsey offers beautiful beaches; gin distilleries; excellent seafood; 28 miles of clifftop walks; windsurfing, surfing and, fishing; dairy products from the island's famed cattle; and the 12th century Castle Cornet.
There is a German Occupation Museum and a German Underground Hospital. The island is already popular with cruise lines who come into the capital, St Peter Port, for the day.
Pedder said five days is an ideal length of time to visit the 24-square mile island-which would include visits to places associated with the occupation and also Hauteville House, the home where Victor Hugo wrote Les Misérables and other classics while he was in exile from France. Renoir also spent time on the island and painted 15 landscapes of it.
The island has 50 hotels ranging from the five-star Old Government House to smaller two-star properties, guest houses and boutique hotels. There are regular events like a Guernsey Heritage Festival, Guernsey Literary Festival, Spring Walking Festival and Seafront Sundays, when St Peter Port becomes traffic free and the waterfront is lined with seafood stalls and al fresco dining.
It's easy to get to and around Guernsey, Nonstop flights operate continuously from London and other British cities. There is also a car ferry leaving the English coast for a three-hour trip. Gas is cheap and parking is free so car rental is a popular option.
Agents and tour operators should access guernseytrademedia.com.
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