MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands experiences steady growth in cruise visitors and leisure tourists

Tony Mason said the industry will continue to grow as the Falklands has made strategic investments with relevant partners around the world to ensure sustainability.

The South American tour by Norwegian Cruise Lines has also helped to boost visitor figures this season, with the Norwegian Sun visiting a planned ten times.

The largest vessel to visit this season has been the Star Princess of Princess Cruises, which carries approximately 2,600 passengers and a further 1,100 staff.

A cruise visitor requesting indications from a local official on a sunny summer day

A tour bus stops at the Liberation Monument in Stanley for visitors to take pictures

The Jetty Visitors Centre in a busy cruise day where they are welcomed by local officials and provided with local information

A rookery of King Penguins, one of the many spectacular sights to be enjoyed in the Falklands and quite close to Stanley

One of the many local bars and coffee shops where visitors can rest and recover after the walking tours of Stanley

By Joshua Peck - The number of cruise passengers visiting the Falkland Islands is projected to increase for the third season in a row. Each tourist season, lasting from October to March, sees numerous cruise vessels arrive in the Falklands, with passengers typically disembarking for a single day onshore. The last cruise vessel for the current season is scheduled to arrive on 31st March.

 From a low of just under 30,000 arrivals during the 2012/13 season, this season (2015/16) is expected to witness another increase in the total number of cruise passengers visiting the Falklands. Last season (2014/15) saw a total of 43,437 cruise passenger arrivals and it is projected that by the end of this season that figure will again be surpassed, with early estimates suggesting the number of arrivals could exceed 50,000. Estimates at the beginning of the season had been as high as 60,000 arrivals, but with some cancellations due to bad weather, this figure will most likely be rounded down.

The growth of passenger arrivals over the past three seasons has primarily been the result of larger cruise vessels visiting the Islands. The addition of a South American tour by Norwegian Cruise Lines has also helped to boosted visitor figures this season, with the Norwegian Sun visiting a planned ten times. The largest vessel to visit this season has been the Star Princess of Princess Cruises, which carries approximately 2,600 passengers and a further 1,100 staff.

The number of cruise arrivals peaked during the 2008/09 season when 62,488 passengers arrived in the Falklands, but a combination of adverse weather conditions and cruise vessels withdrawing due to the effects of the 2008 Financial Crisis saw numbers decline for the following four seasons. Nevertheless, the recent growth in cruise visits has bolstered the Falkland’s tourism industry and it was estimated that £2.4 million was spent by cruise passengers during the 2014/15 season. This amounted to approximately 50% of the total tourism expenditure, with the other expenditure coming from overnight and domestic tourism.

The number of cruise arrivals peaked during the 2008/09 season when 62,488 passengers arrived in the Falklands, but a combination of adverse weather conditions and cruise vessels withdrawing due to the effects of the 2008 Financial Crisis saw numbers decline for the following four seasons. Nevertheless, the recent growth in cruise visits has bolstered the Falkland’s tourism industry and it was estimated that £2.4 million was spent by cruise passengers during the 2014/15 season. This amounted to approximately 50% of the total tourism expenditure, with the other expenditure coming from overnight and domestic tourism.

The majority of passengers come from the US, but significant proportions also come from the UK, Canada, Germany, Australia and South America. Most visitors are drawn to the Falklands by its unique wildlife offerings, with many taking day excursions to see penguins while onshore. The Islands are also home to a number of nature reserves, including New Island, which are frequented by smaller, expedition cruise vessels usually carrying around 250 passengers.

Tony Mason, Director of International Communications for the Falkland Islands Tourist Board said the industry will continue to grow as the Falklands has made strategic investments with relevant partners around the world to ensure sustainability.

“Forecast for leisure arrivals is already on the increase and this is testament that our efforts in this area are already showing dividends”.

Mr. Mason is at Seatrade Cruise Global in Fort. Lauderdale Florida this week where meetings will be taking place with key cruise and tourism partners. For more than 30 years, Seatrade Cruise Global has been the leading international exhibition and conference serving the cruise industry by bringing together buyers and suppliers for a week of networking, sourcing, innovation, and education.”