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| Forward-Thinking Falmouth |
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Page 3 of 4 The demise of the Packet Service contributed to a slightly more depressed era during the mid-19th century. In response to the transition to steam-power and steel hulls, the Docks Company was formed thus marking Falmouth’s arrival in a new age aided by the arrival of a railway into the town in 1863. It is from this time that Falmouth was developed as a centre for tourism; a trend which has continued to the present day. Wandering around the town it is possible to gain a real sense of these various aspects of the town’s history. From evidence of smuggling in the form of The King’s Pipe on Custom House Quay, which was used to burn contraband tobacco in the 18th century; to King Charles the Martyr Church, which was a reward to the Royalist people of Falmouth by King Charles II and his brother the Duke of York. Yet, the innovative spirit that prompted many of the changes that allowed Falmouth to progress and develop over the centuries is far from buried and is still very much in evidence today. The Falmouth Cruise Project is one key example of the initiatives being taken to promote tourism in the area, and in Mayor Michael Varney’s words to cement the idea of Falmouth as ‘the gateway to Cornwall’. An environmental impact assessment into dredging for the project, which would allow many more cruise liners up to 340 metres long to berth alongside the docks, will be completed in January. At present ships with more than 1,500 passengers have to remain in Falmouth Harbour; ferrying passengers ashore in tenders. One of the advantages of the project highlighted by the Mayor is that poor weather will no longer have the power to deter passengers from coming ashore and enjoying the town. As evidenced by Samantha Groom, Carrick’s tourism officer, the nature of the tourist industry in Cornwall as a region, but also noticeably in Falmouth, has changed over recent years with more ‘out of season’ tourism becoming the norm. In order, to look forward to the future and face the challenges of a world in which global warming is becoming an important issues, it is necessary for the tourist industry to adapt and become more environmentally aware. Samantha said: “One of our key messages is sustainability; links on the A Cornish River website direct tourists to responsible visitor tips. We are trying to encourage the Fal River Links, and work closely with accommodation providers, for example, to move away from using so much packaging and to join the Green Tourism Business Scheme.” Visitors to the town are strongly encouraged to park and ride; abandoning their cars to enjoy the many ferry trips and links that operate from Falmouth. |
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