MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Upgrade funds for Islanders who house tourists

Falkland Islanders who house tourists will be offered the chance of a grant to help them upgrade their property, reports the Falklands Broadcasting station.

The scheme has been given the go-ahead by local authorities and stems from the fact that many of the Islands' land based tourists are experienced travellers.

Surveys by the local industry have shown that experienced travellers bring along expectations which are in line with global standards and not necessarily compare with local facilities. Shared bathrooms seem to be a particular issue.

Another driving factor was that some businesses in Camp have approached the Falklands Development Corporation for help with upgrading tourist accommodation for the next season.

However this is usually expensive and may deter operators who don't know whether they'll get their money back, which is why the Development Board is stepping in.

Forty thousand pounds have been set aside for the first phase of the scheme and at least ten businesses are expected to benefit.

One of the main conditions attached is that the refurbished rooms must be made available during peak times for tourism.

The funding will be offered on a pound for pound basis of up to a thousand pounds a room for common areas, and up to two thousand for bedrooms, which must include an en-suite bathroom.

How the money is allocated will depend on the overall benefit to the economy.

Hotel accommodation in the Islands during summer peaks is usually short and the last season tested the Falklands' hospitality at its most when an abrupt change of weather forced a cruise vessel "Amsterdam" to leave over 800 visitors stranded in Stanley.

The Falklands' capital 1,200 residents proved up to the challenge and many tourists described the overnight in Stanley as "one of their life's experiences".

The following day when weather improved the cruise was back and boarded all the visitors. But even when it was an exceptional situation it taught the Islands a lesson which they are now partly addressing.

Building extra hotel capacity for a 45/60 days full season is simply not profitable