ISLES OF SCILLY VISITORS SET TO BENEFIT FROM MULTI-MILLION POUND IMPROVED TRANSPORT LINKS
Visitors to the Isles of Scilly - the UK’s most westerly Island Archipelago set some 28 miles off the Western tip of Lands End - are set to enjoy significantly improved transport links after multi-million pound investment programmes were announced.
Visitors to the beautiful cluster of Islands - 5 inhabited and over 100 uninhabited - will benefit from better travel facilities ahead of the start of the 2013 season, with both scheduled flights and the number of planes operating on routes to the Islands increasing in line with major improvement programmes taking place at Lands End Airport and a major refurbishment programme about to start on the Scillonian III foot passenger ferry.
A brand new, purpose built terminal building, new baggage handling facility, a dedicated arrivals area, a new Air Traffic Control and upgraded car parks are all being created at Lands End airport and will be completed for the start of the new 2013 season in March, coinciding with the return to operation of the newly refurbished Scillonian III.
On the Islands a £4.5 million improvement plan for St Mary’s Airport is being progressed whilst it has just been announced that the Government has given the green light for a formal bid of £8 million of Government and European funding for the development of the Quay on St Mary’s.
Chairman of the Island Tourism Business Partnership Chris Gregory says the significant investments being made to improve travel infrastructure both on and off the Islands are part of a focused programme to improve the visitor experience.
“As a key tourism destination we are delighted that there are millions of pounds worth of significant investments being made in the Islands’ travel infrastructure – both in readiness for the start of the 2013 season and also across the medium and long term - all of which are aimed at improving the facilities and experience of the traveler.”
“Getting to the Islands is such a fundamental part of the visitor experience and people love the fact that there are no long check in lines, massive baggage halls and that there is a seamless and quick transition once they have arrived on the Islands. It is part of the unique Scilly experience.”
“The fact we can improve the level of travel service significantly in the coming months and years is a reflection of just how important visitors are to the Islands are and we need to ensure that the service offered is in line with today’s expectations,” said Mr Gregory.
The average prices for flights from Land’s End and Newquay have been held at the 2012 prices, which range from £70 - £80 per person each way from Land’s End and £85 - 95 per person each way from Newquay. The average price from Exeter will be lower than in 2012 due to the expected increased popularity of this route. The one way fare from Exeter will be between £120.00 and £130.00.
Prices on Scillonian III will start from £75 per person return.