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PITCAIRN ISLANDS STUDY CENTER, Pacific Union College, Angwin, California USA.

Herbert Ford, 559-592-0980, 559-732-0313.

JANUARY 23 IS "BOUNTY DAY" ON REMOTE PITCAIRN, AN ISLAND SEEKING TOURISTS

                        PITCAIRN ISLAND, SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN, January 23, 2012—As the 47 people on remote Pitcairn Island in the South Pacific Ocean prepare to celebrate the 222nd anniversary of the burning of the famous “Mutiny on the Bounty”ship H.M.S. Bounty on January 23, they are sending a far different message to the world than did their mutinous sailor-ancestors who hid themselves away from British justice on the island in 1790.

                        “Bounty Day,” January 23 each year, is an official holiday on Pitcairn Island.  It is the occasion for day-long festivities, sometimes including boat races, and always including an evening burning of a miniature replica of H.M.S. Bounty on the waters just offshore in what is known as Bounty Bay.

                        Whereas the sailors of the Bounty, who had mutinied against Captain William Bligh in 1789, had gotten as far away from the world as they could when they hid out on Pitcairn, today’s Pitcairners are calling as loudly as they can to the world to “Please come visit us!”

                        Given that the relative large number of ships that used to call at Pitcairn - ships on which the islanders could sell produce and island-made crafts and curios - has dwindled to very few, the Pitcairners are now turning to tourism to boost their flagging economy.

                        The islanders are counting on the world-wide fame of the mutiny story; an island that is now replete with relics of the ship Bounty and the mutineers; relics of other vessels that went shipwrecked near Pitcairn; and the Pitcairners oft-noted warm friendship to bring visitors. Those visitors will pay for board-and-room as they stay in island homes and as they purchase unique island crafts, produce and Pitcairn’s exceptionally unusually pure honey.

                        Those pushing Pitcairn tourism point out that scheduled shipping to the island is now available from Mangareva in the Gambier Islands, along with a growing number of charter ship services making access to the island easy. Mangareva has airline service from Tahiti.

                        Modern public accommodations on Pitcairn have been built for those who do not wish to stay in private homes, and there is even an island café which serves tasty South Seas foods.

                        Pitcairn tourism officials cite “great fishing,” quad bike tours, snorkeling, hiking and bird-watching among numerous other “fun spots” in a Pitcairn vacation package.

                        Information about Pitcairn Island tourism may be found at pitcairntourism.pn.

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