MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Landing Fee Tax bring rewards for Falklands.

The recently introduced £10 per person 'landing fee' which was subject to much debate and discussion within the Falklands Government is now reaping its rewards.

Legislation passed sometime ago now requires every person who visits the Islands on a cruise vessel to pay the 'landing fee' regardless of whether they come ashore or not. With just under one month of the tourist season to run, the number of cruise vessels passengers visiting the Falklands is expected to reach 30,000 so bringing a welcome £300,000 to the Treasury. With each visitor estimated to spend around £20 in restaurants, bars and shops, the final income figure is close to £1,000,000(one million pounds) which said one official 'would have been just a dream 5 years ago'. The number of vessels visiting the Islands during the summer has grown dramatically over the last 2 years, as the Buenos Aires to Valparaiso 18 day trip, via Cape Horn, has become one of the most popular cruises offered by tour agencies.

However while the Falklands Financial Secretary is highly delighted with unexpected revenue, many Islanders still have to come to terms with an influx of visitors in the capital Port Stanley. Recently around 2,300 cruise vessels passengers hit the town during a single day, so doubling Stanley's population. Tempers frayed as some drivers showed little tolerance and patience as the mainly elderly Americans shuffled slowly down the center of the street, completly oblivious of the oncoming traffic. 'You wouldn't do that in New York' shouted one impatient driver, as he narrowly missed claiming his first 'victim' of the day. Other similar insults were hurtled at the unsuspecting visitors, while one driver took great delight in continuously driving around and around, weaving in and out of walking groups as if he was in the Australian Grand Prix.

But not all drivers were in a similar aggressive mood, and many sprang to the defense of the pedestrians as they slowly made their way along Ross Road, Port Stanley's main street. 'If we want visitors then we must be prepared to be patient and slow down and show them some respect', said Lachlan Ross who offers a trip to the penguins, 3 miles out of Stanley, for 10 dollars per person.

Fortunately no-one has yet been injured by Stanley's small selection of Michael Schumakers, but as the 'rush-hour' traffic at 1200 each day intensifies there are many who predict t