With its unspoiled landscape, breathtaking coast and historic blend of British and French influences, Jersey is unique. The rural environment consists largely of winding lanes, open fields, woodland, cliffs and headland, trees and hedgerows. This, coupled with world class beaches set against dramatic cliffs and stunning scenery, brings tourists from all over the world to visit Jersey.
Traditionally, the island’s economy has been centred around agriculture, fishing, shipbuilding and knitwear. The latter half of the 20th century also saw a boom in tourism which, by the 1970s, had overtaken farming as Jersey’s most important industry. Today, it is the finance industry that dominates, providing over half of its GDP and the majority of the Government’s tax income. Tourism is still a key part of the local economy while other important sectors are construction, e-commerce and agriculture.
Collectively, these industries have made a significant contribution to the island both in terms of providing the necessary infrastructure and transport and communication links that have allowed it to flourish and in the investment it has allowed the Government to make in meeting the social, cultural and sporting needs of the community.
As a result, the sports facilities here are impressive. From Fort Regent, the island's iconic sports centre, to Springfield Stadium, the football arena built for the last Island Games, as well as the many school and community facilities on offer, Jersey really can put on anything - and do it well!