The UK dominated as the key generating market for tourism in 2011 according to new data released by the Falkland Islands Tourist Board (FITB). Last year land-based tourism from the UK was up 5% to a total of 4.164 arrivals (this figure does not include cruise arrivals).
Despite desperate attempts from Argentina to deter potential investors and increased interference in Falkland Islands’ activities the objective of an economic blockade has not been achieved, said Governor Nigel Haywood on Wednesday in his ‘state of the nation’ annual speech to the Legislative Assembly.
An expanded Executive Committee and reorganized Secretariat, new rules of procedure for compliance and dispute resolution issues, and a Marine Committee Safety Advisory were just some of the actions and decisions adopted by Members at the 23rd Annual Meeting of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), held in Providence, Rhode Island earlier this month.
Ash-victims in Argentina from the Chilean Puyehue volcano eruption are mounting a huge sign to the picked up by the Earth Google satellite inviting world tourists to return to Patagonia. The project should be finished in coming weeks and is promoted by the NGO Solidarity Network Argentina.
More than one billion tourists will take a trip this year crossing an international boundary, a threshold never before reached, UN officials told a meeting tourism ministers gathering in Mexico this week.
As “highly positive” was described the 2011/12 cruise season by Uruguay’s Deputy Tourism minister Lilian Kechichian during the ceremony in the port of Montevideo to receive the last vessel of the season.
A gala ball was held on 12th May to highlight the achievements of the tourist industry in the Falkland Islands and to present awards for notable contributions to the development of tourism in the Islands.
The number of blue whales sighted in the south of Chile increased significantly this austral summer as the cetacean approached the area to feed on the rich waters of the south Pacific according to a scientific report from the Austral University Blue Whale Centre released this week.
Asia leads the world’s growth in air travel and holds seven out of the ten busiest inter-city routes. In addition to the BRIC markets, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Chile showed an impressive growth, according to analysis by the market intelligence solution Amadeus Total Demand.
Punta Arenas in the extreme south of Chile and one of hubs for Antarctic cruises, will be hosting the next annual meeting of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, IAATO, in the first half of 2013.