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Antarctica, a one of a kind tourist destination, attractive for its remoteness, scenery and its wildlife.
While Polar tourism is nothing new, it once was a niche adventure sought out by only the most intrepid of explorers. Now, with advances in transport technology, it has contributed to a rapid growth of polar tourism numbers, and now poses the question, how many people is too many, and should polar tourism numbers be capped or restricted?
From the Polar Tourism Guides Association, The history of polar tourism traces back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when Antarctic exploration was at its peak.
These initial expeditions were scientific or exploratory in nature, but by the 1950s and 60s, commercial expeditions began to take shape, with Scott Base constructed in 1957 for New Zealand’s participation in the Commonwealth Trans- Antarctic Expedition (TAE) and is a vital part of New Zealand’s involvement in research offering a glimpse into one of the planet’s most remote corners. Fast forward to today, and the industry has seen exponential growth, with thousands of commercial tourists flocking to the Antarctic region each year.
However, this increase in human activity, especially in recent years raises significant environmental concerns.
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) has been dedicated advocates for the preservation of Antarctica. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade says “The continued expansion of Antarctic tourism risks changes to the sensitive Antarctic ecosystem.” “As a party to the Antarctic Treaty and its Protocol on Environmental Protection, New Zealand has a clear stance on minimising the environmental impacts of human activities in the region.”
As outlined in their 2003 policy: New Zealand Policy Statement on Tourism and Other Non-Governmental Activities in Antarctica, it offers a comprehensive approach to managing and, where necessary, controlling tourism in Antarctica. This policy aims to ensure that all activities are conducted in a manner that is safe and environmentally responsible. Key points of the policy include seeking the strengthening of management and control mechanisms, avoiding the promotion of further tourism expansion, supporting limits on visitation to prevent cumulative impacts, and opposing any expansion of permanent or semi-permanent land-based tourism facilities, especially in the Ross Dependency.
This policy reflects a broader agreement in the international community regarding the need to protect Antarctica’s unique ecosystem from the potential adverse effects of unchecked tourism. The continued expansion of Antarctic tourism, as MFAT states, risks significant changes to the sensitive ecosystem, highlighting the importance of adopting measures to limit and carefully manage human activities in the region.
Capping polar tourism numbers is not just about just about preserving the environment; it’s also about ensuring that tourists can experience the beauty of all polar regions, now, and in years to come.
