MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falkland Islands Tourist Board focuses on Tourism to the next Generation of Travellers.
Tony Mason, Managing Director of the Falkland Islands Tourist Board today discussed plans on marketing to a new generation of travellers. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesI think this is incorrect. We travel around the world a lot. Those we encounter are mostly British retired, not necessarily boomers. There is a tiny smattering of dinkys (dual incomes no kids), but mostly people of 30 and under, in Britain at least, are focussed on saving for a home and starting a family. They also get very short holidays, especially Americans. The Falkland Islands are difficult to get to independently. We tried to get on the one flight from Santiago on our recent visit to Chile, booking months in advance, but the flights were fully booked. The FIG could do worse than put on a weekly charter flight to the Islands handling bookings themselves together with a promotional campaign. This campaign could even include some organised tours of the islands. Perhaps there could be an Ushuaia experience for those thrill seekers who want an adventure :-)
Jan 05th, 2015 - 10:25 am - Link - Report abuse 01- Not sure where you are or of knowledge but there is a weird place called Argentina that stops the things you talk about - they prevent any further flights to the Islands that overfly their territory enroute so additional flights from Chile are out. No flights direct to and from Argentina because according to them there is no such place as the Falklands and airlinks impossible as they refuse to recognise and deal with FIG as regards relevant airline-airport-air insurance etc paperwork.
Jan 05th, 2015 - 10:46 am - Link - Report abuse 0So we are where we are. Additional flights from Brazil a possibility but would be costly.
Argentina seems to think that by being unpleasant and difficult we will cave in and accept their planned colonial rule over us!
They still cannot figure out that any attempt by a country to impose its will and form of Govt over the people who live elsewhere - is called colonialism.
@2. I understand the points you make, but none of them make a real difference to the person/people who want a special holiday. I don't think you could get me on to the continent of south america unless I had a company of British troops on hand. I may be overreacting - slightly - but I have no wish to be on an aircraft crossing argie airspace nor do I wish to spend any time in argieland. And your final thought is for us to visit the murder capital of the world!
Jan 05th, 2015 - 11:43 am - Link - Report abuse 0Surely it is time for a negotiation with the MoD and AirTanker? The number of new RAF Voyager aircraft being obtained includes a 'surge' capability. So arrange for one or two to run charters to your Islands. They have the range to do it without stopping. Perhaps they could stop at Ascension for a fuel top-up but they are supposed to be good for 9,200 miles. 16 hours out, 16 hours back. 290 passengers. I'd pay a reasonable amount for that. Especially if accommodation is reasonably priced.
Islander, I'm in Oxfordshire. I have been to the Islands on Discovery, a cruise ship, only a day but loved it. Wandered around Stanley, walked up Dean Street, visited the Rockhoppers in a race between a Landy and Land Cruiser, still have the bruises. Falklands are very special.
Jan 05th, 2015 - 02:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0As to a possible charter flight, has anyone actually tried to get something going from Santiago flying around Argieland? Its well off old gits that you need to attract. The Dinkies want all in thrill seeking, not peace quiet and wildlife. The MOD flights are nearly 2 grand I think, rather expensive. What about a charter via Cape Town, even taking in St Helena when its open, I would go for that.
2 Conqueror- MOD are not a commercial animal so un likely to be interested even if airframe available - and cost of a widebodied charter from UK to FI and back is £400,000 plus and no way we could fill it enough to make it even half pay as most tourists tend to come from N America and far East etc who would not want additional costs etc of flying to Europe as well.
Jan 05th, 2015 - 02:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Brazil would be OK - if it happens, it would be timed to coincide with various Int arrival and all be done transit air side in the airport terminal so folks need not enter Brazil as such.
“plans on marketing to a new generation of travellers”
Jan 05th, 2015 - 04:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0which can be summarized according to this officer in: 1 ad in facebook and 1 ad in twitter.
very innovative, really.
now, to think that any young professional would choose the falklands as their tourist destination is, at least, naive.
what could ,a young professional with a lot of money in his / her pocket, do in the islands?
bird watching?
I see potty mouth paul had his post deleted.
Jan 05th, 2015 - 06:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0A new post without swearing, well done son, you might grow up...
eventually.
Someone once postulated that give some monkeys typewriters and an infinite supply of paper and that eventually they will produce the complete works of Shakespeare.
Jan 05th, 2015 - 07:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Thanks to computers, keyboards and Google, we now know that is not true.
As the Falkland's get richer , wealthier, and more advanced [travel wise ]
Jan 05th, 2015 - 07:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0anything is possible,
an underground tunnel from saint Helena ,
air flights from UK to south Africa then on to Falkland's,
flights straight from the UK ,
cruise ships calling at Chile and brazil and or south Africa,
new expanded flights from Chile,
anything is possible,
Argentina can be bypassed just as easily
“As the Falkland's get richer , wealthier, and more advanced [travel wise ]
Jan 05th, 2015 - 07:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0anything is possible,
air flights from UK to south Africa then on to Falkland's,
flights straight from the UK ,...”
yeah, right...lol
all of that while the real british taxpayer pays “bedroom tax”.
and while they have + 13 million people living under the poverty line.
and while each family of the islets costs 300.000 pound per year.
you could start with getting some dignity.
And you can show us , Argentina alternative as better,
Jan 05th, 2015 - 08:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0you guys need not tell to many porkies..
Paul, the vast majority of Britons LOVE the extra room supplement also wrongly termed bedroom tax. And, our version of poverty is Argentinas version of well off. Poverty is what you have in your numerous cardboard shack tin roof shantys known as Villa Miserias, a feature of every Argie City.
Jan 05th, 2015 - 08:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Noting you have stopped making your foul mouthed comments, how about actually staying on topic for once and contributing something useful instead of displsying your jealousy once again.
Paulie- Come on - Justify your wild fantasy of UK cost of £300,000 per family in the Islands!?
Jan 05th, 2015 - 09:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Either justify what you say and provide some valid detail - or zip your mouth.
Come on - we are waiting?
He has a wild imagination nurtured by his connection with The Guardian! I don't think he is able to justify anything he says.
Jan 06th, 2015 - 01:47 am - Link - Report abuse 0Paul has stopped swearing - kudos to him for that.
Jan 06th, 2015 - 02:17 am - Link - Report abuse 0He has made a point about which demographic would be most attracted to the Islands.
Marketed as an “adventure” might draw in younger people with money.
A cruise is ideal - bundle the islands in with a package.
That being said- my curiosity makes me want to go there.
Come on Paulie- we are still waiting - give us some explanation and factual evidence - or shut up.
Jan 06th, 2015 - 08:44 am - Link - Report abuse 0paulcedron @ 10.
Jan 06th, 2015 - 11:20 am - Link - Report abuse 0I can assure you that there is no poverty in the UK, unless it is of their own making, and stop reading the Guardian or listening to BBC, they are so left wing they fly arround in circles. Now, here's a challenge, Google up Google Earth and tour anywhere in the UK and try and find me a 'shanty town', in 10 years when you have failed Google Earth B.A. and you will find one , pan in and give mum a wave. Most media have political affiliations so don't take any of them as gospel. Don't forget, wave to mum !
@17 Good morning!
Jan 06th, 2015 - 02:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0What's the latest news on the vessel stranded in the Solent?
Will be back in Pompey soon!
gordo1 @18
Jan 06th, 2015 - 03:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0It appears the skipper grounded it on purpose to stop it sinking having just left S'ton. There is a theory that the skipper (Swedish I understand ) turned the ship 270 % to strand the ship so it wouldn't roll over, no doubt the Dutch will be involved but it had only just left port, it must have been one-hell-of-a-leak !
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