Poll Shows Falkland Islands Becoming Popular Destination for Cruise Passengers

According to a survey conducted by the Falkland Islands Tourist Board, half of the cruise vessel passengers who take a cruise to Southern South Atlantic countries do so because the Falkland Islands is on the itinerary.

The survey showed that around 30,000 people during the 2004-20055 austral summer joined ships touring from Buenos Aires to Santiago because they saw that there would be a one-day stopover on the Falkland Islands.

Cruises also take a rounding of Cape Horn and cruising in the Beagle Channel and Straits of Magellan, as well as the fjords of Chile.

An amazing high number –96 percent- of the several thousand visitors polled, said that they were either “satisfied” or “very satisfied” with the tours which they had undertaken while on the Islands.

More than half of those surveyed said they were happy with the facilities which were available to them, while 64 percent thought the information and approach of the Falklands tour guides and Customer Service staff was “very good.”

One of the most pleasing aspects of the survey was the high percentage –43 percent- of cruise vessel passengers who said that they would like to return to the Falklands.

The survey also showed that 51 percent of those who visit the Falklands on cruise ships are from the United States, with Germany and Britain chipping in about 11 percent of the total.

During the forthcoming season, more than 60,000 people are expected to visit the Falklands on cruise vessels, which will make 179 calls to the Islands during the busy November-March period.