Authors: Pablo Tejedo, Daniela Cajiao, Tanya O’Neill, Jenna A Lamphere, and Daniela Liggett.
Published: 13 November 2024
DOI: doi.org/10.48361/4GWG-DB92
Abstract: Antarctica is a unique tourism destination which, in comparison with other international destinations, still only receives a relatively low number of visitors each year. Visitors can enjoy one of the places on the planet least altered by humanity. However, tourism visits are spatially and temporally very concentrated. This accentuates the impacts on Antarctic environments arising from rapid environmental changes that are more strongly evident in the Antarctic Peninsula region, which also receives the majority of Antarctic tourism. With growing numbers of visitors, the Antarctic tourism industry is facing a key moment in which it must find a balance between offering exclusive products to tourists who want to live a once-in-a-lifetime experience while avoiding adversely affecting the fragile balance of Antarctic ecosystems. Likewise, the Antarctic Treaty System is confronting a key moment in managing tourism to minimize environmental impacts in a time of unprecedented growth. Achieving this balance will require coordination and collaboration involving all stakeholders participating in the management and operation of the Antarctic tourism industry.
