The Falkland Islands Tourist Board has also worked alongside the Government to identify ways in which it too could assist with helping position the sector to take advantage of demand in 2021/22 and beyond. To this end the tourist board has reallocated existing budgets and earmarked funds totaling £380,000 as follows:
Leisure tourist arrival in the Falkland Islands reached 1,650, during the 2019-2020 season, up almost 7% on the previous year reports Steph Middleton, Executive Director, Falkland Islands Tourist Board.
The Falkland Islands are concerned about tourism and what can be expected of the coming season. Tourism is one of the main industries of the Islands and has been growing sustainedly despite attempts by an abusive neighbor to curtail its development, but on this occasion, the world pandemic has become a greater uncertainty and challenge.
The 2019/20 tourist season is likely to be remembered as, “the one that fell off the cliff in March,” summed up Falkland Islands Tourist Board Executive Director Steph Middleton this week. But despite the impact of the pandemic it wasn’t all bad up until then confirmed, Mrs. Middleton and other industry members.
The challenging complexity and uncertain consequences of Brexit, progress in understandings with Argentina, including the second weekly air link to Sao Paulo, a sound economy with financial stability and the strong commitment of the Falkland Islands population with representative democracy, were outlined by Governor Nigel James Phillips, CBE in his annual address to the elected Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands.
The Falklands Tourism Association, a newly created organization, will be present at the coming conference of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators, IAATO, scheduled to be held from 1-3 May in Newport, Rhode Island, USA.
Government House was a welcoming venue on Tuesday night for the presentation of the Falkland Islands Tourist Board’s annual awards. In addition to the hopeful contenders from across the industry there were most of the 28 newly qualified tour guides waiting to receive certificates.
The Falkland Islands Tourist Board are pleased to announce that the Falkland Islands won the best destination award in the Wave Awards in London; finalists in this category included Abu Dhabi, Akureyri, Dublin, Palma, Santa Cruz and Seattle.
Tony Mason, Former Chief Executive Officer of the Falkland Islands Tourist Board has been appointed to the role of Chief Executive Officer for the Latin America Travel Association.
Falkland Islands Tourist Board Interim CEO, Steph Middleton gave a short presentation on the growth of visitor numbers in recent years at this week’s public meeting. She said there were 1,461 land-based tourists last year, spending about £2m or £120 per person per night - the best year since 2007-8.