St Helena - next travel mecca?

[Warks]

Just read a story about the first airport opening there next year. I'm wondering how they managed to fit it on the island.

Saint Helena: Island on the brink of tourist invasion

THE tiny South Atlantic island of Saint Helena — where Napoleon died in exile — dreams of becoming a tourist draw when its first airport opens next year despite fears it cannot accommodate an influx of visitors.For years only accessible by boat, St Helena has just one bank, no cash machine and no mobile telephone reception.
Sailing out to St Helena from Cape Town every three weeks, the boat journey takes five long days. Because the island is so remote, only 1500 tourists visit each year.

Apart from Napoleon's tomb (which is probably a big drawcard) I couldn't see anything else of note. Remoteness and seabirds I guess.

Wonder what the airport code will be?

 

[Spongbob]

I read in a news report that some people have found a ship that was torpedoed in 1942 near the coast of St Helena that has $65 million of silver coins.

 

[Warks]

There's a Wikipedia article with this map showing the location. Can't easily link to the pic but the article is interesting.

Saint Helena Airport - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Silver doubloons!

 

[jsoprano]

You can see it on Google Maps as well while under construction.

Sounds like an interesting place to visit for me, simply due to the remoteness. Another place I always found intriguing lays a bit further south: Tristan da Cunha. Only 300 people on an island 2400 kms south-west of Capetown, with the fastest way to get there being the 2-monthly cargo ship from South Africa (7 days of travel time).

Tristan da Cunha - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[smit0847]

Can't be bothered going a long way to a place not ready for tourists where the locals dont want you. I guess it would make an interesting AA destination for 50k in J though!

 

[Spongbob]

Until the airport is finished, the only way tourists can get to St Helena is via sea with the RMS "St Helena" from Cape Town: a week to get there and a week to return.

 

[YSSY]

St Helena, Ascension, The Falklands, I've been to all of these, just another island...

 

[Warks]

St Helena, Ascension, The Falklands, I've been to all of these, just another island...

On the same (sailing) trip?

 

[YSSY]

On the same (sailing) trip?

I used to sail into those island regularly as a Navigator on cruise ships, wandered ashore in all of them and was a little underwhelmed. The Antarctic on the other hand....