MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands receives 6.000 cruise visitors in one day; 90% satisfaction rate

Passengers flock at the Stanley jetty before departing for local tours and walks

FALKLAND Islands Tourist Board statistics showed a 90% satisfaction rate yesterday on the busiest day ever in Stanley’s cruise ship visitor history.

Despite heavy rain and an overlapping visit of three large vessels in one day, carrying approximately 6000 passengers, Tourist Board Manager Paul Trowell described the visitors as “very understanding.”

Mr Trowell said, “It all went smoothly due to the organized team of the Falkland Islands tourist Board and ground operators all cooperating. “Everyone showed a lot of patience and cooperation on the day.”

Visiting ships comprised the Crystal Symphony, Star Princess and the Infinity.

Tourism Coordinator Samantha Marsh of Sulivan Shipping, tour agents for two of the three ships, was delighted with the day’s work. Ms Marsh said, “The day went so well due to everyone's hard work and a lot of organization and planning.”

Sulivan Shipping who provides a majority of shore excursions said there were 64 tour departures from shore side, providing pre-booked tours for 1,800 of the passengers.”

Penguin Travel (Falkland Islands Company) tour operation provided pre booked tours for hundreds of passengers off the Star Princess and the Infinity together with a shuttle service to the Gypsy Cove Penguins.
 

Other visitors took up privately sold tours, visited the museum or took the Falkland Islands Company shuttle to see gentoo penguins at Gypsy Cove – a 20 minute drive from Stanley.

The Environmental Planning Office confirmed today that Gypsy Cove (cared for by Wardens on busy cruise ship days) was visited by 1218 individuals.

Guide Agent Sarah Clement said, “I was delighted with the tour figures and thought Sulivan Shipping did a fantastic job in organizing the tours – the day ran seamlessly.”

Mrs Clement, who is also a Director of the Tourist Board added, “Although the people I spoke to who weren’t booked up for tours seemed happy with simply walking around the town, it would be interesting to know if we were able to fulfill everyone’s wishes – whether everyone who wanted a guided tour managed to obtain one.”

Alison King from the Harbour View Gift Shop on Stanley sea front said, “We had an excellent day, our best ever, we were well staffed and although we had to sometimes limit access people were very patient and waited to get in. Our staff was happy and the customers were happy.”

Approximately 2,600 people live in and around Stanley with only a few hundred more between the remainder of the East and West Falkland Islands, thus the population of the Islands roughly doubled on Wednesday.

By Lisa Watson – SeAledPR - Stanley