Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Exploring the Last Continent pp 379–398Cite as

Destination Icy Wilderness

Tourism in Antarctica

  • Chapter

Abstract

Tourism is a late starter in Antarctica. However, visitor numbers have increased dramatically since the 1990s to more than 30,000 per summer season, raising concerns about the potential impacts on the continent and the surrounding ocean. Unsurprisingly, the rapid increase in the numbers of people visiting Antarctica has had significant consequences for the regulation and management of Antarctic tourism. Since the creation of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) in 1991, much of the in situ management of Antarctic tourism has been undertaken by the industry itself, which resulted in some complacency by Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties (ATCPs) with regard to tourism regulation. This chapter introduces the main characteristics of Antarctic tourism, its brief history and explores some of the concerns and impacts that can arise from tourism activities in and around Antarctica. This chapter also sheds light on the current regulation, management and regulatory challenges of Antarctic tourism.

Sections of this chapter are reprinted with permission. The original text by the same author appeared as “Case Study 4: Policy challenges of tourism as a commercial activity in Antarctica” (pp. 107–117), In: Edgell Sr., DL, Swanson JR (2012) Tourism Policy and Planning: Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, 2nd ed, Routledge, London and New York.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   189.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    In November 2014, the International Maritime Organization adopted a mandatory International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code), which is expected to enter into force in January 2017.

References

  • Bastmeijer K, Roura R (2004) Regulating Antarctic tourism and the precautionary principle. Am J Int Law 98(4):763–781

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bauer T (2007) Antarctic scenic overflights. In: Snyder J, Stonehouse B (eds) Prospects for polar tourism. CABI, Wallingford, pp 188–197

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Cessford G (1997) Antarctic tourism: a frontier for wilderness management. Int J Wilderness 3(3):7–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Donovan R (2011) Antarctic ice marathon. Retrieved 31 Oct 2011, from http://www.icemarathon.com/

  • Enzenbacher DJ (1993) Tourists in Antarctica: numbers and trends. Tour Manag 14(2):143–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Enzenbacher DJ (2007) Antarctic tourism policy-making: current challenges and future prospects. In: Triggs G, Riddell A (eds) Antarctica: legal and environmental challenges for the future. The British Institute of International and Comparative Law, London, pp 155–189

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall CM (1992) Tourism in Antarctica: activities, impacts, and management. J Travel Res 30:2–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Headland RK (1994) Historical development of Antarctic tourism. Ann Tour Res 21(2):269–280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Headland RK (2005) Chronological list of Antarctic expeditions and related historical events. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • IAATO (2011) Home – International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators. Retrieved 27 Oct 2011, from http://iaato.org/home

  • Jabour J (2009) National Antarctic programs and their impact on the environment. In: Kerry KR, Riddle MJ (eds) Health of Antarctic wildlife: a challenge for science and policy. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 211–229

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Kriwoken LK, Rootes D (2000) Tourism on ice: environmental impact assessment of Antarctic tourism. Impact Assess Proj Apprais 18(2):138–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lamers M, Amelung B (2007) Adventure tourism and private expeditions in Antarctica: framing the issue and conceptualising the risk. In: Snyder J, Stonehouse B (eds) Prospects for polar tourism. CABI, London, pp 170–187

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Lamers M, Haase D, Amelung B (2008) Facing the elements: analysing trends in Antarctic tourism. Tour Rev 63(1):15–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liggett DH (2009) Tourism in the Antarctic: modi operandi and regulatory effectiveness. VDM Verlag Dr. Müller, Saarbrücken

    Google Scholar 

  • Liggett D (2011) From frozen continent to tourism hotspot? Five decades of Antarctic tourism development and management, and a glimpse into the future. Tour Manag 32:357–366

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindblad L, Fuller JG (1983) Passport to anywhere. The story of Lars-eric Lindblad. Times Publishing, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason PA, Legg SJ (1999) Antarctic tourism: activities, impacts, management issues, and a proposed research agenda. Pac Tour Rev 3:71–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason PA, Legg SJ (2000) The growth of tourism in Antarctica. Geography 85(4):358–362

    Google Scholar 

  • Mortimer G, Prior E (2009) Antarctic tourism: an operator’s perspective. In: Kerry KR, Riddle MJ (eds) Health of Antarctic wildlife: a challenge for science and policy. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 231–240

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Murray C, Jabour J (2004) Independent expeditions and Antarctic tourism policy. Polar Rec 40(215):309–317

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Powell RB, Kellert SR, Ham SH (2008) Antarctic tourists: ambassadors or consumers? Polar Rec 44(230):233–241

    Google Scholar 

  • Reich RJ (1980) The development of Antarctic tourism. Polar Rec 20(126):203–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scully T (2008) Chairman’s report from the Miami Meeting (17–19 Mar 2008) on Antarctic Tourism. Information paper (IP) 19, XXXI Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM), Kiev

    Google Scholar 

  • Snyder J (2007) Tourism in the polar regions: the sustainability challenge. UNEP, Paris

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Stonehouse B (1994) Ecotourism in Antarctica. In: Cater EL, Lowman G (eds) Ecotourism: a sustainable option? Wiley, Chichester, pp 196–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Stonehouse B, Crosbie K (1995) Tourist impacts and management in the Antarctic Peninsula area. In: Hall CM, Johnston ME (eds) Polar tourism: tourism in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Wiley, Chichester, pp 217–233

    Google Scholar 

  • Stonehouse B, Snyder J (2010) Polar tourism: an environmental perspective. Channel View Publications, Bristol

    Google Scholar 

  • Swithinbank C (1993) Airborne tourism in the Antarctic. Polar Rec 29(169):103–110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tracey PJ (2001) Managing Antarctic tourism. Unpublished PhD thesis, The University of Tasmania, Hobart

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gateway Antarctica, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Daniela Liggett

Authors
  1. Daniela Liggett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniela Liggett .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Gateway Antarctica University of Canterbury, Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

    Daniela Liggett

  2. Gateway Antarctica University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Bryan Storey

  3. School of Earth & Environmental Science James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia

    Yvonne Cook

  4. Radio NZ House, Wellington, New Zealand

    Veronika Meduna

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Liggett, D. (2015). Destination Icy Wilderness. In: Liggett, D., Storey, B., Cook, Y., Meduna, V. (eds) Exploring the Last Continent. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18947-5_18

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation