MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Cruise season in Ushuaia with 71.000 visitors and 251 calls
Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego and considered the most southern city of the world, received over 70.000 cruise visitors and 251 vessel calls during this cruise season, which took off last September and was computed until the end of February, which also proved to be the most active month of austral summer. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesHmmm I think its the stories about piles of burning tyres, catcalling and aggression from local mobs of rock throwing knuckle draggers and suchlike that makes Ushuaia a no no for tourists. The dismal moss covered concrete Mal Vinas sign doesnt help a bit either. Its just a place to load up the ship and get away from as fast as possible and with current Argie attitudes. Change is needed.
Mar 14th, 2015 - 10:55 am - Link - Report abuse 0They still have not repaired the shit pumps that pump the sewage out to sea due to a row over who is going to pay for the work! It's only been THREE years, but still, they have plenty of 20 YO Malvinas Vets that have to be full of shit to claim that.
Mar 14th, 2015 - 11:09 am - Link - Report abuse 0Ah, TDC, soon to be a dead country, well in 25 years!
You have to laugh comparing this shit hole with the Falklands!
so, 71.000 tourists from cruisers plus the real tourists, those who go to ushuaia by plane.
Mar 14th, 2015 - 11:51 am - Link - Report abuse 0that is more or less 140.000 tourists in the season.
and the good thing is that ALL of them return.
not a surprise when you have a place with sea, the best heliski resorts, the best hotels of southern patagonia and stuff.
now, compare all of that with the islets...LOL
L-O-L
“However despite the success of the cruise season...... not many visitors actually remain long in Tierra del Fuego”.
Mar 14th, 2015 - 12:22 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Most of the tourists that board in Ushuaia for a cruise hardly spend time.... in Tierra del Fuego”, said Gianfranco Guardamagna.
Paul, you need to have a word with Gianfranco....he hasn't read the script.
Top Gear wasn't that impressed either and to be honest from the brief exposure the area got ...it didn't look all that nice.
Landfill - yes, tourist hotspot - no
The negativity surrounding Ushuaia will be difficult to totally expunge but good luck.
englander
Mar 14th, 2015 - 12:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0but what those twats (all due respect) of top gear think is not too important.
i mean, who the fuck cares?
the important thing is what real tourists have to say.
like these:
http://www.tripadvisor.com.ar/ShowUserReviews-g312855-d2147912-r258669911-Heliushuaia-Ushuaia_Province_of_Tierra_del_Fuego_Patagonia.html#mtreview_255739747
...and these http://www.tripadvisor.com.ar/Hotel_Review-g312855-d634429-Reviews-Los_Cauquenes_Resort_Spa-Ushuaia_Province_of_Tierra_del_Fuego_Patagonia.html#REVIEWS
Mar 14th, 2015 - 01:22 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Dump!
As for Top Gear about 150 million viewers worldwide.
captain dumb
Mar 14th, 2015 - 01:34 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“As for Top Gear about 150 million viewers worldwide.”
yes?
but again, who the fuck cares?
what the fuck can they know?
you want to know something about tourism?
then read publications related with...tourism.,
D'OH!
Ushuaia gets 71.581 visitors.
Mar 14th, 2015 - 02:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Clarkson maybe gets the sack.
Car-ma ??
I thought that once the ”most watched TB show (see what I did) in the history of the human race since the death of Christ” (that I had never heard of till last year), ran its British anti-argentine propaganda piece, that tourism in Argentina would collapse...
Mar 14th, 2015 - 03:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I guess that TB show needs a little more viewership.
Meanwhile this is going on in a FORMER BRITISH COLONY, and Commontheft member:
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/huge-cyclone-in-pacific-devastates-vanuatu-at-least-eight-dead/ar-AA9K6hW?ocid=ASUDHP
“Formerly known as the New Hebrides, Vanuatu was jointly ruled by France and Britain until independence in 1980. It is among the world's poorest countries...”
So much for the “Common Wealth” being such a good club!
@9
Mar 14th, 2015 - 03:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0What are you doing on MSN? That's any imperialist yanqui owned site is it not?
What has anything in Vanatu got to do with this article?
What is your reason for existing?
Sad little troll.
Let's discuss the issues raised in the article. Namely lots of tourists arrive in Ushuaia, but after a quick look around, they scurry back to the ships in a hurry.
Some local worthy wishes it weren't so and wants it to change.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
@ 10 ilsen
Mar 14th, 2015 - 05:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Does anyone have any suggestions?”
Change the name to Stanley?
:o)
Comment removed by the editor.
Mar 14th, 2015 - 05:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Vanuata? The UK is already on the case with cash to help on the table. A British warship is on its way to help. What is Argentina doing - absolutely sod all as usual except carping on the sidelines. Yesterday evening Britons raised more than $120 million via Comic Relief to help with projects to help the needy all over the third world with schools hospitals and accommodation for youngsters. What does Argentina do, sod all as usual. - Scum, as the 150 million viewers of Top Gear already know.
Mar 14th, 2015 - 05:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 012 - netwarrior .
Mar 14th, 2015 - 07:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Problem ?
Ushuaia gets 71.581 visitors.
Mar 14th, 2015 - 08:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Clarkson maybe gets the sack.
but you forget, Ushuaia gets ONLY 71, 581`
Clarkson was and is supported by just over 5000,000
now if only he was a cruise liner...
this is what you can do in ushuaia
Mar 14th, 2015 - 09:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0snowkite en el fin del mundo
http://agustinacerruti.blogspot.com.ar/2009/09/snowkite-y-snowboard-en-ushuaia.html
heliskiing
http://agustinacerruti.blogspot.com.ar/2009/09/snowkite-y-snowboard-en-ushuaia.html
you can stay here for eample
http://agustinacerruti.blogspot.com.ar/2009/09/snowkite-y-snowboard-en-ushuaia.html
while watching this landscape
http://agustinacerruti.blogspot.com.ar/2009/09/snowkite-y-snowboard-en-ushuaia.html
OR...
you can go to the islets and enjoy this landscape
http://agustinacerruti.blogspot.com.ar/2009/09/snowkite-y-snowboard-en-ushuaia.html
and stay here.for example
http://agustinacerruti.blogspot.com.ar/2009/09/snowkite-y-snowboard-en-ushuaia.html
not a difficult choice, no??
@ 16 POLLY
Mar 14th, 2015 - 09:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Heli skiing in Andes Mountains is an extraordinary experience. [I BET it is] Helicopters take you to several peaks and valleys, such as Valle Tierra Mayor, Monte Alvear, Monte Olivia and the peak of Cerro Castor ski resort, where you can ski or snowboard down the slopes in a paradise of unspoiled powder snow.”
Given that two argie choppers made mincemeat of their clients this week even though a “Malvinas veteran” was at the controls of one of them do you really expect anybody other than brain dead argie pillocks to risk their lives at this?
Even if you didn't die in the crash I for one have NADA confidence in a timely rescue. Look at the Clarin photos of the two that crashed on the ground and the complete fiasco they are making of “preserving the site” as required by international law for the investigation of air crashes.
Bloody amateurs.
@10 Ilsen
Mar 14th, 2015 - 10:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Does anyone have any suggestions”
The Brits founded Ushuaia, the Argentines messed it up.
Allow the FIG to run Ushuaia, get the sewage working, ban the burning of tyres, even get rid of the CT scanners cluttering the streets and see the tourists actually spend some time there and increase numbers to 200,000 visitors (by making them feel welcome).
@16
“this is what you can do in Ushuaia”
You forgot to mention the many CT scanners the tourists can use.
#16
Mar 15th, 2015 - 12:06 am - Link - Report abuse 0Thanks for reminding me to take my medication. I took my Zantac tablet immediately and it removed the symptoms of a bilious attack caused by the bile emanating from your keyboard.
Not difficult at all. The Falklands have one HUGE advantage.....no Argentinians.
Try the Torres del Paine in beautiful Chilean Patagonia....no smell of burning tyres either.
18 Pete Bog
Mar 15th, 2015 - 01:28 am - Link - Report abuse 0Glad to see you are tackling the CT Scanner issue with Pablo.
Perhaps the surplus scanners not actually required by the needy visitors, could be bulldozed into the harbour to create an artificial reef?
Pablo @16, could add Reef Diving to his list of tourist activities!
Quite ironic how peruvian-cedron, (for it is true), promotes heli-skiing, or what-ever, during such a sad time when Argentine Nationals are responsible for the deaths of some foreign tourists.
Mar 15th, 2015 - 03:43 am - Link - Report abuse 0He really should have some more class.
I doubt that any more European tourists will venture into an Argentine-piloted helicoptor in the near future.
In fact this could kill that industry.
Well, fortunately there is a viable alternative with the best fully equipped modern hospital on the same island (with a working CT scanner), with far less crime and virtually no corruption, located next door that was rated very highly from an enthusiastic Top Gear crew for their exceptional hospitality...
Mar 15th, 2015 - 08:35 am - Link - Report abuse 0Oh yes, with lots to see and do, with old Victorian palaces and museums along with excellent restaurants and hotels that are enthusiastically recommended not only by tourists, but also the large number of the scientific community who use the city as the gateway to Antarctica. Punta Arenas awaits everyone with open arms, including the Falkland islanders with weekly 767 flights on the highest rated airline in South America.
I blush with embarrassment to also mention this, but the region is supported by one of the four best navies in the Americas, with a fully operational icebreaker.
@9 Nostril - Vanuatu devastated. New Zealand, Australia, UK and the UN are all helping this small country after the cyclone devastated it.
Mar 15th, 2015 - 09:10 am - Link - Report abuse 0What is YOUR country, Argentchina doing?
(As a public service for all the tourist agencies who want something special for their clients... Take a ferry directly south across the ((
Mar 15th, 2015 - 10:21 am - Link - Report abuse 0Perhaps I should also contribute some embarrassing information to my Argentine friends that Puerto Williams is the southernmost city in the world. Confirmed by treaty by the Chilean-Argentine commission (Comité de Frontera.)
Furthermore, excluding research stations in Antarctica, Puerto Toro is the southernmost permanently inhabited community on the globe, the only community on Earth that is situated below the 55th parallel south, with coasts and waters belonging to the Atlantic Ocean.
Oh yes, the Argentines TRIED to steal the area from Chile, but they failed, so they then decided to invade the Falklands instead.
After all, the President of Chile was Pinochet, vs. the daughter of of shopkeeper was the Prime Minister. What could go wrong?
Now saying that, relations between our two neighbor countries today are very cordial. Chilean naval vessels tow disabled Argentine ships on a regular basis at no charge.
Punta Arenas is fantastic, lots to do and see, great history, nice restaurants and cafés Torres de Paine is staggering, so beautiful. Charming welcoming people who like the British. Its hard to believe that Ushuaia is so awful in comparison. Never got across the water to Puerto Williams, but we will one day.
Mar 15th, 2015 - 11:06 am - Link - Report abuse 0Such a shame for pablo the plonker. Although a goodly part of the information is there in the article, pablo hasn't got the one brain cell necessary to suggest the research to confirm the obvious. Consider the routes from the hubs of the intelligent world if one wanted to visit Antarctica. I presume pablo has already been and that's where his nuts got frozen off. For the most part, unless you enjoy long over-water flights in poorly maintained aircraft, you are forced into argieland. Still poorly maintained aircraft, but over-water flights are much shorter. Alternatively, argie ships get stuck in ice or even sink! Just imagine. A warship sinks whilst tied to a quay. Imagine the state of repair of a commercial ship. So check the limitations. British aircraft and British ships only. Imagine the horror of being on an argie-crewed vessel. Staying awake all night every night with your gun pointed at the cabin door. Just in case.
Mar 15th, 2015 - 11:39 am - Link - Report abuse 0A bit of research, and investment by the Falkland Islands from the oil industry, and they could 'own' the South Atlantic.
@22. Problem is that what you need is half a dozen squadrons of multirole combat aircraft so your 767s can barge straight through on the most direct route. Good idea to drop bombs en-route to create a safe corridor.
@24. When you're towing, ever tried getting up speed? Fast enough and the argie 'ships' will dig their noses in and sink. Lots of good relations between Chile and Britain. Your first naval commander, Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald, was British.
@9 Nostrils,
Mar 15th, 2015 - 12:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Where did you get your information when you said that Vanuatu was one of the poorest nations on earth?
The UN rates the people of Vanuatu as the happiest people in the world.
Many western companies have their headquarters in Vanuatu.
The country makes that much money from corporate/company taxes that there is no income tax.
You wouldn't be doing a “Think”, would you?
By telling porky-pies?
Anything to make the British look bad, eh nostrils?
Maybe we caused the Cyclone also?
ldiot.
First, thank everyone who's submitted these diverse creative contributions...
Mar 15th, 2015 - 04:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Based on his recommendation of Argentine helo-tourisim, I suspect ChrisR is a bit too overly enthusiastic about the thrills of helicoptering in Patagonia...
Pete's idea to let the FIG government “to run Ushuaia, get the sewage working, ban the burning of tyres...” seems very helpful and I appreciate Troy's suggestion to “bulldoze all those unused CT scanners” in to the harbor to form an artificial reef, but you assume that they have a working bulldozer to accomplish that. (Chile's hospitals would like to contribute to the reef, but all we have are fully functional CT scanners.)
Conqueror's seeming practical ideas probably are just not that viable. As he noted, Argentine vessels tend to just capsize on their own anyway. From a selfish point of view from our navy, their officers mess is always spectacular, and Chilean invitees have always regarded it as a nice little perk in return for saving them from frequent international humiliation.
As far as bombing eastern Tierra del Fuego with a squadron of our F-16s, I think we'll take a pass as probably all we'd end up killing would be a few sheep, guanacos and perhaps an occasional European tourist... ...it would be a complete waste of Mark 84 bombs... ...plus the Argentines would just end up bitching to the UN Security Counsel and end up building a ridiculous monument to a dozen martyred dead sheep...
Regarding Lord Cochrane, the “Sea Wolf”, he is without a doubt, one of the world's greatest historical naval heroes. He indeed introduced British customs to our navy and is revered in Chile. One of Chile's Type 23 frigates currently carries his name.
Excellent article about how the Argentines are destroying their cruise industry. They don't need to be bombed, they're destroying themselves on their own.
http://buenosairesherald.com/article/179295/argentina’s-cruise-industry-bubble-blowing-up-in-20142015-season
@ 28 Chicureo
Mar 15th, 2015 - 07:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“Based on his recommendation of Argentine helo-tourisim, I suspect ChrisR is a bit too overly enthusiastic about the thrills of helicoptering in Patagonia...”
Perfectly correct! :o) I consider helicopters (modern western one like my two friends who own one each) to be marvellous pieces of kit with the machining of functional parts to be the equivalent of my Rolex.
Neither of my friends can understand why I have NEVER and will NEVER take a ride with them. But as I said to them, I am an engineer and have far more sense!
Not too confident about the two argie 'copters for age, mechanical soundness and the saying “six million separate parts flying in semi-formation” really does describe the things to a “tee”.
And when you add a 65 YO “Malvinas Vet” who probably hasn't had a rating check in fifteen years into the mix you have a recipe for disaster.
#29 ChrisR
Mar 15th, 2015 - 07:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Actually, if you really want to risk your precious life and experience a terrifying heart in your throat and white knuckles experience, book yourself on any domestic Aerolineas Argentinas flight as their maintenance is almost non-existent at times. (Also if you're someone who enjoys being degraded and humiliated like a doormat, it's your international airline of choice as well.)
Helicopters are really expensive, high maintenance, finicky, difficult to understand and unforgiving creatures who age terribly and can easily kill you....
...just like those attractive porteñas wearing stiletto heels in Buenos Aires...
Saying that, I've had the experience of several in my lifetime, of which the scariest is at sea. (...by the way, I'm not referring to porteñas...) Does get you aboard a ship quickly though.
Rolex watches on the other hand, are nearly indestructible and age like fine wine.
30 chic
Mar 15th, 2015 - 08:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Rolex watches require lubrication and maintenance every five years. It's possible those helicopters were on the same schedule.
Helicopters? Flying metal fatigue machines - no thanks! ChrisR, spot on…
Mar 15th, 2015 - 08:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0chicureo
Mar 15th, 2015 - 10:22 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“I blush with embarrassment to also mention this, but the region is supported by one of the four best navies in the Americas, with a fully operational icebreaker.”
yes?
but that joke of “icebreaker” you have there cannot even be named icebreaker-
it is just a boat of...5000 tons.
it cant even break a wave.
you want a real icebreaker?
here you have one,
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARA_Almirante_Ir%C3%ADzar
#33
Mar 15th, 2015 - 10:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0How does this one work. Is it at sea just now or is it still in dock?
The only way it could break ice is to be airlifted and dropped from a height of 1000 metres onto the ice.
The Finns must be embarrassed that a bunch of no-users have ruined a perfectly good ship that they built. By the way, the ship the Chileans will be getting built looks “ the gear”
33 Pablo - I have no dignity- Cedron
Mar 15th, 2015 - 11:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Chuckle, the pride of the Arg Armada
According to Wiki:
“The ship has been out of service since 2007, when a fire broke out in the auxiliary generator compartment. As of November 2012, the repairs should be completed by the end of 2013 at a cost of over US$100m”
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARA_Almirante_Ir%C3%ADzar_%28Q-5%29
Oh, but look!!
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARA_Almirante_Ir%C3%ADzar_%28Q-5%29
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARA_Almirante_Ir%C3%ADzar_%28Q-5%29
$650m later... no icebreaker!
Looks like Chilé is surpassing Argentina by a nautical mile...
Pablo fails again
no9
Mar 15th, 2015 - 11:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0fair suck of the sauce bottle mate the cyclone didn't hit until Saturday yet 3 Australian military aircraft flew in on Sunday with tents desal plants generators and food
and another 5 planes due in from Australia today
that is what being part of the Commonwealth is worth
What exactly has the generous country of Argenchina offered in the way of help ?
Mar 16th, 2015 - 08:07 am - Link - Report abuse 0Ushuaia - Antartica - Stanley - Buenos Aires
Mar 16th, 2015 - 01:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Just imagine how much everybody would benefit from that; no `gaucho rivero´ law, no BS, no senseless malvinist crap.
Well, more missed chances...
Troy
Mar 16th, 2015 - 02:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I beg to differ: Chile surpasses Argentina by a light year.
Thanks however for your enlightenment of the Argentine icebreaker scandal.
@ 39 Chicureo:
Mar 16th, 2015 - 03:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Stop it.
It is sad enough to read any newspaper here in Argentina (well, except those gov-paid, of course) and see how low things are heading, so last we need is you making fun of us.
yes, Chile has done great in many areas in the last years, as well as it keeps certain debts to its own people (eg: healthcare). Furthermore, I think that not having a good relationship with Chile is one of our biggest debts. Chile has being growing and (mostly) doing the right thing, while Argentina ... well, Argentina has simply failed the last 60 years.
As far as I am concerned Chile is one of the mirrors we should be looking at in a near future, assuming that the K gang of thieves pack its stuff and leaves (or gets jailed). Otherwise, we will deepen our ties with chavist Venezuela and its bolivarian-progressive friends and, well, it will be a non stop fall down to the sewer.
40 SebaSvtz
Mar 16th, 2015 - 05:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Oh, don't feel so bad, we have problems too. Chile is going to go through an economic stagnation as our dear Socialist president Bachelet and her Communist friends are veering my country towards more radical left-wing policies. You and I know what will eventually happen... Along with changing our constitution, Chile's corporate tax rate, which was 15%-17% will now rise to 35% which has already slowed our economy drastically.
I have two very good friends who reside in Mendoza and San Juan who say far worse things about their country...
I personally have admired Argentina since my first trip in my youth which happened during Allende's Unidad Popular. My family crossed the Andes on numerous occasions to Mendoza for buying luxuries like toilet paper and decent shampoo while enjoying enormous bife de chorizo steaks. The city had everything you might want to buy and it seemed that half the inhabitants owned an impressive Ford Falcon.
My family has vacationed occasionally at Las Leñas and San Carlos de Bariloche as well as my wife and I used to escape to Buenos Aires on romantic weekends, but that stopped over a decade ago. All my encounters with the Argentine Navy were always cordial. I've had multiple invitations to the Círculo Militar and frankly your officers mess is always superb, including on corvettes.
Yet, most of your countrymen worship the authoritarian ideology of Peronism which has nearly bankrupted Argentina while blindly following the hallucination the the Falklands belongs to you. So when your Cámpora trolls trash an article about a small museum in Stanley or ridicule Punta Arenas, I feel it's only fair to shovel it back to their faces.
@ 41 Chicureo
Mar 16th, 2015 - 07:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“ and it seemed that half the inhabitants owned an impressive Ford Falcon.”
They weren't green, were they?
:o)
ChrisR
Mar 16th, 2015 - 08:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Too many...
...terrifying reminder for us who understand the significance...
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