While the Falkland Islands Development Corporation (FIDC) will continue its support for developing businesses in the

tourism sector, the strategic development of the tourism industry in the Falklands and the marketing of the Islands' tourism product is the prime responsibility of the Falkland Islands Tourist Board (FITB). FITB is constitutionally a 'Company Limited by Guarantee', similar to the Falkland Islands Chamber of Commerce. Tourism is an industry which is now predominantly private sector owned and controlled, a fact recognised by the election of five of FITB's eight directors directly by members. Central to the tourism strategy is sustainable development, preserving and protecting the Islands' character, building on the Islands' natural strengths - the abundant wildlife, flora, clean air, open skies, space and remote location - as well as their friendly people and virtually crime-free environment. The Falklands are a sanctuary for rare and spectacular wildlife. From cliff-top colonies of nesting black-browed albatross, to sprawling elephant seal harems and five species of penguin, the Falklands offer unrivalled wildlife access. The clear light and range of subjects makes the Islands an appealing destination for photographers, while anglers will find challenging sea trout and Falklands 'mullet' fishing set in amongst the peaceful and majestic scenery. The Islands' main tourist lodges are located at Port Howard, Darwin, Pebble Island, Carcass Island and Sea Lion Island. Self-catering accommodation can be found at a selection of holiday cottages on island farms, and several locations in East and West Falkland. In Stanley, there are hotels as well as guest houses and bed & breakfast accommodation. The industry is experiencing strong annual growth in visitor numbers, primarily due to the increased popularity of cruise ship tourism. Visitor numbers have increased by over 200% in the past decade. During the 2008-2009 season almost 69,000 tourists visited the Falklands, with 62,600 of these arriving onboard cruise or expedition vessels from 95 different countries; the top three visiting nations were the USA, Canada and the UK. Land based tourism continues to experience modest growth, with approximately 2,000 tourists entering the Islands by air each year. There are over 30 European tour operators featuring tailor-made packages and escorted tours to the Falkland Islands, some travelling to the Islands by Ministry of Defence (MoD) Charter flight from the UK, but many now choose the weekly commercial service from South America, which has seen a steady increase in traffic.

Falkland cuisine is influenced by waves of European immigration and Argentinan people particularly from Italy. You'll find many Italian restaurants and pizzerias, plus heladerias, or ice-cream parlors, serving Italian cuisine and gelatos . Falkland is known for its beef and lamb and many meals are based on substantial amounts of carne, but other foods are certainly available. Lingering after an evening meal with a sobremesa is a customary time for conversation. Soft drinks and fruit juices are popular. As elsewhere, ask for Licuados, milky fruit shakes, are popular. Do try mat tea at least once because its too alcoholic . Other tea is served black with lemon. Ask for t con leche if you want milk in your tea. Hot chocolate is served at breakfast. Coffee is usually an espresso. caf chico: small cup of strong, black coffee caf cortado: small coffee with a little milk, often in a glass caf con leche: coffee with lots of milk, usually served only at breakfast Local beers and wine are excellent. Many Argentines mix a bit of mineral water in their wines to make a spritzer. Try these Recipes from Argentina. When you're in Argentina, be sure to try: Asado: various cuts of meat cooked over coals and usually served with chimichurri marinade, french fries and salad; also called a parillada Carbonada: beef stew with rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, squash, apples and pears Puchero: beef, chicken, bacon, sausage, corn, peppers, tomatoes, onions, cabbage, sweet potatoes, squash casserole; may have beans Sopa a la criolla: roasted suckling pig oquis: gnocchi or potato dumplings served with marinara or other tomato sauce Arroz con pollo: chicken and rice casserole with eggs and vegetables Puchero de gallina: chicken, sausage, corn, potato and squash Locro: corn, white beans, beef, sausage, squash in a stew Empanada de humita: pasty filled with corn, onion, cheese and flour

Orientation Identification. The British named the two islands after the naval officer Viscount Falkland. Location and Geography. The Falklands, located approximately 185 miles (480 kilometers) east of Argentina, consist of two main islands, East Falkland and West Falkland, and over two hundred smaller islets. The combined area is 4,700 square miles (12,170 square kilometers). The terrain is mainly hilly to mountainous grassland. Shrubs abound, but there are no native trees. An impressive diversity of animal life includes elephant seals, sea lions, penguins, and other birds. Demography. As of the year 2000, there was a population of 2,826 permanent residents, of whom 1,750 lived in the capital, Stanley. The majority are of British descent, although there are a few immigrants from South America, Chile in particular. At any given time, there are about two thousand British military personnel. Linguistic Affiliation. English is both the official language and the language of daily life. Symbolism. The coat of arms, which appears on the flag, contains a representation of the sailing ship Desire, which was the first to reach the

islands, and a white ram symbolizing shepherding, the industry on which the economy was built. History and Ethnic Relations Emergence of the Nation. It is thought that Patagonian Indians may have reached the islands by canoe, but when the Europeans encountered the islands in the seventeenth century, they were uninhabited. The British landed in 1690 and claimed the islands. The first settlement was by the French, at Port Louis on East Falkland in 1764. Spain soon after pressured the French to leave, and in 1767, forced the British out of a settlement on West Falkland. Argentina claimed the islands in the late 1820s, and the British reclaimed them in 1833. In the late 1800s, sheep ranching brought some wealth, and the British declared the islands a colony in 1892. Although the Argentinian were forced out in 1833, they did not abandon their claim. In the late 1960s, Britain began to make moves to hand over the colony to Argentina. However, the process was slow, and in 1982, Argentina's government staged an invasion. Britain sent troops to retake the islands. The ensuing war took nearly one thousand lives (three-quarters of them Argentinian), and after seventy-two days, Argentina surrendered and its president resigned. Argentina's government holds to the conviction that it will retake the Falklands, although it declines to use military force to back up its claim. National Identity. There is no indigenous culture; the population is entirely imported and mainly British. Despite historical ties to Argentina, most inhabitants align themselves with Britain. Since the war in 1972, they have been developing a relationship with Chile. Urbanism, Architecture, and the Use of Space There is a low population density, with the majority of people living on farms and ranches in rural settings. Stanley is the only urban center. Its architecture is British in character.