MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Promoting Positive Falkland Islands Image. PR Specialist takes up New London Role.

As part of a new drive to promote a positive public image of the Falkland Islands, in parallel with economic development, a public relations specialist has taken up a newly created post in the Falklands' London Office.

The Falklands Islands Government has announced the appointment of 32-year-old Sam Allanson-Bailey as Customer Services and Marketing Manager. She will also deputise for the Falklands Government United Kingdom Representative, Sukey Cameron.

Announcing the appointment, Miss Cameron spoke of plans to press ahead with various initiatives. "Over the next two years", she said, "we will develop, amongst other things, the export of organic agriculture, food products and the responsible development of tourism. Inward investment will secure and sustain our future. We aim to project the modern Falklands as ?clean and green' and ?open for business'. We are delighted to have Sam on board and wish her every success with the opportunities ahead."

Miss Bailey is making a familiarisation visit to the Falkland Islands from November 16 to 27. She describes her new role as "a fantastic opportunity". She said: "I join at an exciting time. The Falkland Islands has a clear vision and great potential, currently untapped ? this will be realised over the next two years. Currently we are in research stage, but activity will be targeted, and we are looking at various distribution channels including the internet."

Promoting what it calls "new sustainable economic initiatives", the Falkland Islands Government, supported by the Development Corporation and Tourist Board, is launching a new branding and marketing campaign next year.

Working with a team of four, Miss Bailey is tasked with providing "a customer focused operation" at the London Office and developing "a programme of public relations and marketing activity to ensure that the public image of the Falkland Islands is nurtured and developed".

She has done similar work previously for the Arab Gulf State of Dubai in its Commerce and Tourism Promotion Board, from 1991 to 1997, becoming its UK & Ireland Manager for three years. Most recently she has been the Forte Hotel Group's Corporate PR Manager. Previously she was an account director at the international public relations firm of Hill & Knowlton, MarComms Division.

Sam Allanson-Bailey has an English Language and Literature Degree from London University's Kings College. She was born in Malmesbur