Falkland Islands Environment Committee soon held a debate on the cost of landing fee for cruise passengers which is due to be increased to GBP25 per visitor, and was described as “the highest in the region”.
Stephanie Middleton of Falkland Islands Tourist Board expressed her concerns that there might be negative consequences of the rise in landing fees for cruise passengers.
From July 1, the fee is scheduled to rise to GBP25 per visitor, with an element of it going to the Museum, where guests who currently pay an entrance fee of GBP5 will be admitted with no charge.
Mrs Middleton described the new charge as, “the highest in the region except for South Georgia”.
A response from FIG (Islands' government) was awaited to a question she had asked about the proportion of the new landing charge that would be earmarked for environmental protection.
Falkland Islands receive some 55.600 tourists annually, most of them cruise passengers, making tourism one of the most dynamic sectors of the economy.