A visit to Antarctica is apparently on a lot of people’s bucket lists, since more than 44,000 tourists visited the continent during the November 2016-March 2017 tourism season.
To put that into perspective, the number of people who visit Antarctica as part of research and monitoring missions is a much smaller 4,000 or so individuals.
High numbers, high impact
As you can probably imagine, 44,000 tourists can have quite a high impact on Antarctica’s delicate ecosystem. Typically, tourists want to visit the most scenic and wildlife-rich areas of the continent, and there aren’t many areas where tourist-carrying vessels can land. A tour ship, even a small one, carries a lot more people than the entire population of many Antarctic research bases.
A self-regulated industry
Tourism in Antarctica is regulated by the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators, which currently has 122 members. The IAATO’s guidelines limit the size of ships that can cruise around the continent (thus removing the hazard of large cruise ships) and the number of tourists who can be landed at sites around Antarctica. So far, the organization seems to be successful in its efforts to minimize impact.
Negative impacts
Visitors can accidentally bring invasive species to the continent, bringing in seeds or insects in on boots, clothes, food cargo, or other personal possessions. Birds are made anxious by the influx of tourists, which can affect breeding birds’ ability to lay eggs and raise their chicks. The number of visitors coming to Antarctica also increases erosion and disturbance of environments, and boats and ships can cause oil spills.
Positive effects
The biggest positive impact of tourism in Antarctica is that people become ambassadors for the continent. Visiting a place makes it less of an abstract concept, and the more voices are speaking on the continent’s behalf, the better. There are no native residents to speak for Antarctica, so it’s critical to have people who are willing to fight against attempts at development or resource extraction. Trips to Antarctica are expensive, so tourists tend to be wealthier and more influential than the typical visitor. They can use their influence to assist Antarctic conservation efforts.
Benefits for research
According to NOAA researcher John Durban, tourist dollars fund scientific expeditions as well as raising awareness among laypeople about the effects of climate change and Antarctic conservation efforts. That presents one important argument in favor of tourism in Antarctica.
Education is key
Because of Antarctica’s delicate ecosystem, there’s an extra level of care needed in order to be a responsible tourist there. First, all tourists need to be subject to rigorous decontamination efforts in order to avoid introducing invasive species onto the continent. Tourists also need to keep their distance from native flora and fauna, no matter how photogenic, in order to avoid disturbing nesting sites and other important breeding areas. And finally, education about Antarctica as a precious natural resource should inspire tourists to minimize their impact.
What do you think? Is responsible tourism in Antarctica possible? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
Photo: The Lemaire Strait in Antarctica. Credit: Shutterstock