DESPITE being cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, 2019-2020 proved to be a record-breaking cruise season in the Falkland Islands. A total of 72,836 cruise passengers arrived in the Islands, up 16.5% on the previous season.
A report delivered to the Standing Finance Committee has revealed that the government has funded Covid support measures to the tune of £7.983 million.
The restrictions on travel between Stanley and Mount Pleasant Complex have been lifted, after Chief Medical Officer Dr Rebecca Edwards advised that the current risk from Covid is almost nil. Attorney General Simon Young has confirmed there is no longer any justification for limiting travel.
MLA Leona Roberts read a statement last Friday announcing the decision.
THE Government has confirmed that it has asked UK authorities to waive quarantine requirements for Falkland Islands residents travelling the to UK.
The move comes as surveillance swabbing continues to return negative results. To date, 413 PCR tests have been carried out in the Falklands, all resulting in negative results.
ESCAPISM has taken on a fresh meaning in the last three months. Where once it could have meant wilful avoidance of responsibility, Coronavirus has lent it a positive – therapeutic, even – connotation. We are given book and film recommendations with the assurance that they are “pure escapism,” for instance. Anything to mute the white noise of news reports and shut out the blue light of news feeds and logarithmic scales.
NATURALLY the question on most people’s lips is will there be tourism in the Falkland Islands this coming season? This week Executive Director of the Falkland Islands Tourist Board Steph Middleton told Penguin News that while she could not give an answer she would attempt to, “explain the process that we will be going through.”
