THE tourism industry will be holding its collective breath in the first two months of 2009 amid fears that full-price booking levels could be well below the levels of past years.

The industry needs potential tourists to be prepared to pay advertised prices in the crucial months of January and February if a financial crisis is to be averted. And taxpayers’ money will be used to boost visitor numbers if it looks as though tourist numbers will be down sharply.

Many key figures in the industry are privately predicting that hotels and guest houses will slash rates as early as March to attract enough tourists to keep businesses viable. And one well-known industry figure, who declined to be publicly named, said: ‘It will be meltdown in some areas if high-value booking numbers drop as much as some people fear.’

However, the Christmas and New Year period appears to have been reasonable, with hotels reporting decent occupancy levels compared to previous years. But with the UK economy predicted to be spiralling into a deep recession early in 2009, the prospects for next year are worrying many people.

• Picture: Mont Orgueil, one of Jersey’s attractions all year round