Tristan : The worlds Remotest Island gets busy, as tourist visits increase
Submitted by Tristan Times (Sarah Glass) 23.03.2009 (Current Article)

Tourist vessels visits, to Tristan da Cunha has increase this year to nine visits over the summer.

The worlds Remotest Island gets busy, as tourist visits increase Tourist vessels visits, to Tristan da Cunha has increase this year to nine visits over the summer. A tourist committee has been established, and tourist coordinator appointed. She is Dawn Repetto, who used to work in the Finance Department and helped with immigration duties. She will be responsible for directing the passengers, organizing tours etc once they arrive at the harbour. The National Geographic Explorer arrived at Tristan on the 2nd March to exceptionally good weather and landed all of her 87 passengers. This was the first time inaugural Tristan Cultural Tours were on offer and many visited the volcano, tours around the settlement, and bus tour to the patches. The following day the vessel collected guides, crafts and post office items before heading of to Nightingale Island. Again the passengers were landed and were able to see the Yellow nosed Albatross chicks, Rock Hopper penguins etc. All went well and as the passengers had enough time, a visit was also made to Inaccessible Island. This was to the benefit of two field workers, who were waiting to get back to Tristan after completing some conservation work. Whilst the passengers were being landed at Salt Beach, the conservation workers were collected and all Tristanians returned to the settlement before sunset, after which time the vessel headed for Cape Town. The Corinthian arrived at Tristan on Sunday the 15th March, although the wind was from the NE and the sea state was not good. The Administrators Deputy who had spent several months on the island, and an island family who were catching a ride to Cape Town were taken to the vessel with the Police RIB. One passenger Fr Peter Norris on route from Falklands to Tristan, was also landed and will spend the next few weeks ministering the Catholic community. An attempt was made to bring passengers ashore but the sea state became too rough, so it was abandon. The following day conditions had improved slightly, but the conditions at the harbour were still not favorable, so an alternative landing sight was suggested at Runaway Beach, below the potato patches. 35 passengers were landed and brought to the settlement via bus, where they spent a half-day before returning to the vessel, which then headed for their next port of call Cape Town. The cruise vessel Minerva, due to arrive early morning on the 18th March was delayed and arrived at 1500hrs. No passengers were allowed ashore, so the Post Office, and others selling Handicrafts went onboard the vessel. She stayed off the settlement until 1900hrs before collecting two passengers and departing for Cape Town. Two yachts also called in, on route from South America, collected fuel and supplies before heading on to Cape Town. Sarah Glass