MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Boost for Falklands Tourism.
Tourism in the Falklands Islands has developed spectacularly in recent years, and the
trend continued in the season just ended.
More than 1,600 visitors travelled around the islands on land tours either in
organised groups or independently ? an increase of 800 per cent in only five years.
This figure was boosted by cruise ship visits by sixty-one vessels, with nearly 28,000 passengers, many of whom took advantage of their brief stay to make excursions to view wildlife. The Falklands welcomed as many tourist ships as the Southern Chilean City of Punta Arenas. Only four ships were forced to cancel by bad weather.
To encourage the Falklands cruise ship visits, the Falklands Tourist Board and Sullivan Shipping Services Limited were represented by Debbie Summers at the annual meeting of Antarctica Tour Operators in Seattle earlier this month, and the Governor, Mr Howard Pearce, attended to represent the South Georgia Government. Quark Expeditions are following up the success of their first Falklands-only voyage last season with another unique nine-day exploration on the Professor Multanovsky in November.
More extensions to South America holidays Travel organisations serving the Falklands are increasing, not least from Latin American associations which are including the Falklands as an add-on extension to holidays in various part of South America. No fewer than eleven such firms are now offering Falklands holidays, supporting the Islands' aim to increase visitors arriving via South America using the weekly LanChile service from Punta Arenas. Falklands' representatives last month visited Chile to discuss a proposed second weekly LanChile flight which would greatly improve Falkland Islands' international links.
LanChile has for the third consecutive year won the US Official Airline Guide award for the best airline in the Caribbean, Central and South America, based on a poll of business travellers.
Among new firms serving the Falkland Islands, Audley Latin America, a specialist United Kingdom operator, is offering tailor-made itineraries and personalised service, sending its first clients to the Falklands this year. South American Experience is offering a Falklands add-on in its new brochure, for a two-week itinerary including Santiago. Torres del Pain and Punta Arenas, flying on to Mount Pleasant for visits to Pebble Island, Saunders Island, Sea Lion Island and Stanley.
"Go Fishing" is combining a week's fishing in Torres del Pain in Chile with a week's trout fishing in the Falklands. The best months for this are September and October and March and April.
Other travel groups include Naturetrek, Ornitholidays, Avian Adventures, Travelling Naturalist, Photosafaris, Island Holidays, Hoskins, Windrose, Far Horizons, Aviatur, Hallelujah (Japan), Falklands Experience and Fototrek, with TCS Seattle bringing another private jet tour group.
Tourist Board enhanced Status and name-change Reflecting the growth and importance of tourism, the Tourist Board is changing its name and status to become "Falkland Islands Tourism", an independent body with its own legislation and staff, governed by board members from both the public and private sector. The United Kingdom market will continue to be represented by the Falkland Islands Government Office (FIGO) in London.
By these changes, the Falkland Islands Government says it acknowledges the potential economic, social and political benefits of tourism and commits wholeheartedly to partnership with the private sector in its development and promotion.
An experienced Islander, Debbie Ford, who is Marketing Assistant at FIGO in London, is returning to her homeland to take up the post of Tourism Representative in July, reporting to Tourism Manager, John Fowler. She will be based at the Visitors' Jetty Centre in Stanley, assisting visitors and tour operators.
All the tourist accommodation providers in Stanley and in the countryside reported a successful season and are looking forward with confidence to the coming tourist influx.
New Map Guides To aid visitors, a new "Falkland Islands Explorer' Map has been produced by Ocean Explorer Maps, including a Stanley Town Plan, illustrated biographies of explorers and other notable people, an historical time line, colour photographs and text on wildlife, visitor attractions and general information on the Falkland Islands.
And an Inter-Active Stanley Map, available on line, has been added to the Falkland Islands portal at www.falklandislands.com There is also an inter-active map providing information about key locations around the Islands.
A "Falklands in Focus" exhibition of over 40 colour photographs taken by amateur and professional visitors to the Falklands goes on display in Guernsey from June 27, coinciding with the NatWest Island Games until they end in July. A Falklands team is taking part in the games.
The Falklands clear light and excellent range of subjects are a photographers' paradise. Anyone with potentially winning pictures should know that the search is on for Travel Photographer of the Year 2003, a new international competition with £40,000 (about 60,000 dollars) worth of prizes, recognising the best of travel photography by amateurs or professionals, with a special category for young photographers under sixteen. Entries close on 14th September.( See www.tpoty.com)
Harold Briley, (MP) London
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