MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Cruise season kicks off in Ushuaia.

With the arrival of the Chilean cruise “Mare Australis” and 132 visitors the most southern city of the world Ushuaia in Argentine Tierra del Fuego, officially inaugurated this week the 2003/04 cruise season.

Ushuaia operators expect in the coming seven months 66,000 visitors, mostly Americans and Europeans who will be travelling in 38 cruise vessels that will be calling 232 times in the local port.

The Tierra del Fuego Tourist Office expects a "very active cruise season", even better than the previous when 56,812 visitors landed in Ushuaia which is the main gate to Antarctica since it concentrates 97% of all cruises to the frozen continent.

However an interesting tendency is taking place in the cruise industry, although the 2002/2003 season marked a 4,000 visitors increase over 2001/2002, the actual number of vessels was less since they are larger and with greater passenger capacity.

Tierra del Fuego authorities are well aware of the significance of the cruise season that usually represents between 45 and 65% of the overall provincial tourist turnover, and are determined to consolidate Ushuaia as the main access to Antarctica, 1,000 kilometres away.

"Although we still suffer from some shortcomings, we are the main suppliers of provisions, perishables, fresh water and fuel for the cruise industry. Punta Arenas in Chile and Falklands are potential competitors but they are further away from a logistic and geographic stand", said Mario Cipenik from the local Tourist Office.

Among some outstanding facts of the current season is the Celebrity Cruises "Infinity" with 1,950 passengers and 950 crewmembers that is calling in Ushuaia for the first time.

"Mare Australis" is scheduled to call in Ushuaia 34 times carrying 4,080 visitors while the Dutch flagged "Amsterdam" with eight calls will be the cruise that most passengers transports, 9,600.

According to local statistics most cruise tourists are Americans, 55%, followed by British and Germans. From Latinamerica top of the list are Argentines followed by Mexicans, Brazilians and Chileans. Most Americans and Europeans are over 60.

Even when cruise tours usually include Falkland Islands and the channels in Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica is the ever growing attraction and the preferred visiting places Antarctic Peninsula, South Shetland Island, Deception Island, Lockroy, Cuverville, Petermann, Livingston and different Antarctic bases.

"Tourists are ever more active, they travel to Antarctica wishing to disembark rather than sightseeing as in the past", said Guillermo Torre from the provincial Tourism Office. Apparently last season "thousands visited the bases, hundreds tried kayaks, camped, climbed and even dived in the freezing Antarctic waters".

But Mr. Torre also pointed out that the great challenge for Ushuaia is to keep improving support services to cruise vessels and "make the city and Tierra del Fuego sufficiently attractive so tourists decide to remain longer, ?and spend more locally".