Despite being cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, 2019-2020 proved to be a record-breaking cruise season in the Falkland Islands. A total of 72,836 cruise passengers arrived in the Islands, up 16.5% on the previous season.
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.
Margaret Williams and Michelle Pepper of Falkland Islands Holidays recently attended Experience Latin America in Canary Wharf, London. Organized by the Latin American Travel Association (LATA), this was the 5th event held where the primary aim is to bring together key suppliers from the Latin America region along with top influential buyers from within the UK and Europe.
Visitor arrivals to the Falkland Islands were up 3.1% compared to the previous tourist season, confirmed Executive Director of the Tourist Board Stephanie Middleton to Penguin News. The Falklands' season ended on April 7 with total visitor arrivals for the season at 57,496. Ms Middleton outlined how, as with last season, it was the expedition vessels that mainly contributed to the hike in numbers.
Despite the cancellation of two planned ship visits in November, Falkland Islands agencies are optimistic about the prospects for the 2017/18 cruise season. Carli Sudder of Sulivan Shipping Ltd told Penguin News she thought the season was looking “pretty good” with some new ships like Silver Muse (capacity 590) and the return of others like Island Sky (capacity 114).
Luxury line Silversea's 254-passenger Silver Cloud has set sail on its first voyage after a massive makeover designed to turn it into the most elegant polar expedition vessel at sea.
The Falkland Islands cruise season came to a close last month with 55,633 passenger arrivals visiting the Islands, only slightly fewer than the 56,476 who visited the previous season, reports this week's edition of Penguin News.
Approximately 63,000 cruise ship passengers arrivals are expected in the Falkland Islands this season which is slightly up on the previous season when just over 56,000 passengers were received from 105 ship visits. Staff at Sulivan Shipping are looking forward to the start of the 2016-2017 tourism season, with the arrival of the first cruise ship passengers on next Saturday’s flight, to board the M/V Sea Spirit.
New Mind | tellUs has been selected by the Falkland Islands Tourist Board to supply a world-class digital platform which will contribute to the development of a well established and thriving tourism destination.
The return of the Norwegian Cruise Line to South America this season with nine planned calls to the Falkland Islands “is a massive boost to our cruise ship industry,” Sulivan Shipping Tourism Coordinator Samantha Marsh told Penguin News this week.