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The Falkland Islands are riding on the crest of a wave following a record-breaking visitor season with increased visitor numbers, new products on show and confidence for further growth in the future.
The recent season (October 2008 – April 2009), which saw 62,600 passengers arriving on 105 ships, compared to 62,200 in 2007-2008, has topped off a decade of visitor number increases documenting an impressive growth of 218% over the past 10 years. A new record was set in the 2008-09 season when 4,053 visitors arrived on board cruise ships in one day earlier this year on 6 February.
Situated in the South Atlantic, about 300 miles from South America, the Falklands archipelago is made up of over 700 islands. Cruising is the ideal way to discover the Falklands as it allows people to visit many sites that remain largely inaccessible to land-based tourists, all from the comfort of a world-class vessel. West Point Island and Saunders Island are the most popular islands visited by cruise ship passengers outside Stanley, while the most popular trips from the capital are to Gypsy Cove and Bluff Cove.
The Islands are now on the itineraries of over 35 cruise operators, a number that is set to increase over the coming years as both cruise ships and expedition cruises visit as part of a wider South America or Antarctica voyage. Satisfaction with visits to the Islands is very high, with 98% of cruise passengers surveyed stating that their trip was Excellent or Good, while half (50%) of all visitors stated that they would be interested in returning for a land-based holiday. Visitors arriving in the Falklands in Cruise and Expedition vessels spent over £3 million per annum on tours, shopping, and food and beverages during the recent season.
Land-based tourism is also growing over time; the Islands now receive approximately 2,800 tourists each year staying for at least one week. Of these, 1,483 are UK leisure tourists and the average length of stay is 12 nights. Upgraded accommodation in Camp (the Falklands term for the countryside) is providing a welcome boost to this lucrative aspect of the industry and this season has seen renovations at Sea Lion Lodge; new rooms added at the Malvina House Hotel; and a total refurbishment at The Waterfront in the Islands’ capital, Stanley.
During the 2008-9 season, land-based tourists to the Falkland Islands spent an estimated £3.2 million, with an upward trend for visitors to enjoy the Falklands as a twin-centre holiday or add-on from South America: over half (57%) of all land-based tourists in the 2008-9 season visited Chile as part of their trip to the Falklands.
Commenting on the recent success in the Falklands tourism industry, Jake Downing, General Manager of Falkland Islands Tourist Board said, "We are extremely pleased with the season and it is very encouraging that, despite the current economic climate, the tourism market in the Falklands is so buoyant. This demonstrates the growing popularity of the Falkland Islands as an integral part of cruise visitors’ itineraries. Added to this, we are pleased that domestic tourism continues to remain successful, with an estimated value of £1,122,000 per year and 11,500 domestic trips taken by Falkland Islanders each year."
Despite the challenges, the Falkland Islands Tourist Board is anticipating a continued growth in cruise arrivals in the 2009/10 season. “We are forecasting a growth of around 1% this year”, Downing continues. “In the meantime what we need to do is ensure that our marketing, planning and infrastructure is protected, prepared and developed for the long-term, so that we are able to reap the benefits when the economy picks up again”.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
