Cold Water Tourism: The Falkland Islands

1
Cold Water TourismThe Falkland Islands

• Stephen A. Royle
• School of Geography
• Queens University Belfast

2
Falkland Islands geography
West Falkland
Tussac grass

• gt700 islands two substantial East and West
  Falkland
• 12,173 sq km density 0.2 people p. sq km
• Population (2001) 2491 1989 in the town, Stanley
• Whitegrass, low shrubs, no trees tussac grass at
  coast and islets
• Most land used for rough grazing for sheep
• 52S cool temperatures constant wind, usually
  westerlies

3
Falkland Islands history
Memorials
1690
1982

• First sighting (1592) first landing (1690) by
  British
• First settlement (1764) by French claim
  inherited by Argentina through sale to Spain
• British, who had settlement from 1765, took
  islands in 1833 after lawless period in which
  Britons were murdered
• Conflict Argentina invaded 1982 expelled by
  British
• Overseas Territory internal self-rule British
  pay for defense

4
Falkland Islands economy
Community School in Stanley
New roads in Camp

• Ship servicing, then sheep farming from 19th
  century
• After Conflict, land reform led to rural-urban
  migration
• gt50 income now from fish (mainly squid)
  licensing
• Much investment 1990s in Stanley and Camp
• Over-dependence on fickle wool prices and squid
  migrationneed for diversification, including
  into tourism

5
Falkland Islands tourism sectors
www.antarctica-journeys.com

• Cruises (34,000 passengers 2003-04)
• Luxury gt1,000 passengers
• Soft adventure
• Expedition ships lt200 passengers
• Land-based (few hundred p.a), arrive by plane
• Military market (1500 service personnel on RR)

6
Falkland Islands luxury cruises

• Mainly elderly Americans
• May not specifically choose a Latin American
  cruise to come to the Falkland Islands
• Often ill-prepared and nervous some do not go
  beyond the jetty most seek just the iconic
  penguin
• Does the sea go all the way round the islands?
• How do you cut the grass on the minefields?

Stanley jettythere is more to see
7
The Falklands for the inquisitive
Quaint
Unspoilt Friendly Hospitable Authentic
Rural traditions
Military history 1982
British
Landscape stone runs
8
The Falklands cold water tourism
This beach is mined anyway
Gentoos

• Lovely beaches, but you swim only for a dare
• People come for the wildlife, especially penguins
• Also black-browed albatross, caracaras,
  flightless steamer duck, upland geese, sea lions,
  elephant seals
• Nature red in beak and talon
• Off-road driving
• Cold water tourism is managing without a
  hairdryer

9
Falklands tourism choke points
Upland Geese
Upland Goose
Stanleys premier hotel 16 rooms

• Only weekly flights from Chile
• Alternative RAF flights not set up for the
  tourist market
• Argentina restricts use of its air space for
  Falklands flights
• Now no passenger exchanges on the Falklands,
  which constrains cruise ship schedules
• High cost of getting there
• Limited accommodation in both Stanley and
  Campnatural limit to land based tourists of c.
  500 p.a.

10
Cold water tourism management
Off-road in West Falkland
Gypsy Cove, now protected

• Gypsy Cove, the only wildlife site accessible by
  road from Stanley, was damaged by trampling,
  ruined says Falklands Conservation. Now better
  managed with fences, footpaths etc but few
  penguins there.
• Other sites naturally protected by restricted
  access, all being off-road with slow
  uncomfortable journeys

11
Role of Tour Guide in relation to Conservation
Guard wildlife, habitats and historic
sites Understand related legislation and reasons
for conservation Inform clients about natural
history and sites Dissuade disturbance, damage,
collection and handling Encourage participation
in biological recording
From Falklands Conservation presentation to
Falkland Islands Tourist Board Tour Guide course
12
Falklands tourism businesses
3
1
2

• Owner of Murrell Farm and Kidney Cove Safari
  Tours
• Owner of Long Island Farm demonstrates horse gear
• Owners of Guesthouse Port Howard at the airstrip
• Some small farms (lt8,000 ha) make half their
  income from tourism it provides total income for
  some businesses they are aware of need for
  sustainability

13
Falklands tourism issues

• Leakage the penguin was made in China
• Continued political uncertainty regarding
  Argentina
• Access problems and limited infrastructure
  constrain growth tourism can only tick over
  until better air access
• Full employment and some do not value tourism,
  despite the medium and long term importance of
  the industry
• Continued need for vigilance regarding management
  of iconic wildlife in this coldwater
  destinationsustainability