Important role: St. Helena has also played host to naturalist Charles Darwin and astronomer Edmond Halley — who made use of the island’s dark skies.Island in isolation: Once a strategic Atlantic shipping port of call, St. Helena was long isolated by the lack of an air connection.Sea links: Until 2016, reaching St. Helena involved passage on RMS Saint Helena, the mail ship that, every three weeks, covered the five-and-a-half day journey from Cape Town, South Africa.Mandatory month: Once on the island, travelers had to wait until the ship made its next visit before they could leave — meaning a month-long trip with no flexibility of dates, a luxury few travelers can afford.Atlantic airstrip: A new runway was completed in 2016 and a scheduled commercial air service started in October 2017, linking the island with Johannesburg.Napoleonic past: French emperor Napoleon was exiled on St. Helena almost exactly 200 years before work began on the air strip. The island’s isolation meant it was impossible for him to escape.Emperor’s appeal: The role played by St. Helena in Napoleon’s final years makes it an attractive destination for historically minded French tourists.Jamestown: It has a picturesque capital, Jamestown, and several historical sites, some connected to the island’s past role as a Royal Navy anti-slavery base.British heritage: St. Helena is one of the few remaining outposts of a once-mighty British empire, with many landmarks reflecting its ownership. These include St. Paul’s cathedral, built in the 1850s.Economic boost: Locals are preparing for the economic advantages that tourism can bring, with initiatives to broaden the island’s accommodation options and some operators developing special-interest tours.Tourism concerns: There may be apprehensions about the island’s capacity to manage a sudden surge of visitors, but even at peak levels, St. Helena is expected to remain a unique tourist destination.Vital connection: Just 4,500 residents live on St. Helena, however, regular flights provide a crucial link for over 10,000 islanders based overseas, predominantly in the UK.Export potential: St. Helena’s rich landscape yields a rare, high-quality coffee whose flavor was praised by Napoleon himself, and is currently esteemed by connoisseurs globally.
