Tourism Update - Cruise Shop Numbers Increase
2 May 2012
Cruise ship numbers increase
St Helena Tourism has been targeting cruise ship operators at trade shows and via direct contact, to include the island in their itineraries, as part of its work developing tourism.
The numbers of visiting cruise ships, and the numbers of passengers coming ashore, have continued to increase in recent years. In the current cruise ship season we have seen 6 cruise ships visit, and to date over 2,500 visitors have come ashore. Subject to the final scheduled cruise ship visit next week, we anticipate that we will have welcomed more visitors this season than for the past five years. This represents twice as many cruise ship visits to last year, and an increase of 90% in terms of visitors. Already cruise ships are scheduled for visits later this year and in 2013.
Cruise ship visits, which are coordinated through Solomon’s, are complicated arrangements. The practical considerations of conditions on the day are the responsibility of the ship’s Captain and crew, who have to consider the abilities of all their passengers. These decisions can be very frustrating to Tourism and all those providing services to potential visitors when a Captain decides not to land.
We are looking forward to the visit on Monday, 7 May of the MV Athena, which has a capacity of 550 passengers.
Dolphin Trip on Sunday, 13 May
There will be a dolphin trip on Sunday, 13 May, departing the Wharf at 9.00am. Here’s a great opportunity to see the local dolphin pods, as well as seabirds. If you are interested in going on this trip, please contact the Tourist Office.
Note for Editors: For further information on any of the above items, or for any information about tourism activities on the island, contact the Tourist Office on 2158. The Tourist Office is open 7 days a week.
St Helena Tourism
2nd May 2012