Sustainable tourism in Antarctica: Discover the remote continent the right way
Home to the massive South Pole and a major portion of the planet’s ice, Antarctica is one of the most protected places on Earth. It is the only continent that doesn’t have a native population. Scientific research staff primarily make up its population and their numbers drop as cold arrives.
Since the early 1990s, tourism in Antarctica has been steadily rising, and one of the key reasons behind this phenomenon is thought to be because of a “last-chance tourism” race. In simpler terms, people are eager to see sights that may not be available in the future.
Because of rapidly rising sea water levels from the melting glaciers in Antarctica, exploring the remote continent is incredibly important to travellers. But travelling to Antarctica has never been easy, certainly due to its location and also because of the many strict rules.
‘Ecotourism’, ‘sustainable tourism’, ‘responsible travel’
Experts believe sustainable tourism is the right way to explore any place. Such a kind of tourism takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, besides addressing the needs of visitors, the environment, the industry and local people.
The present travel industry makes repeated use of terms like ‘ecotourism’, ‘sustainable tourism’ and ‘responsible travel’. The International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as a way to explore natural areas and preserve the environment and host communities at the same time.
Nonetheless, the aforementioned popular terms are also some of the most misused and overused terms in the travel sector as some tour operators use it to sell their holidays without necessarily abiding by the principles of sustainable tourism.
Characteristics of sustainable tourism
Sustainable tourism in Antarctica aims to let travellers explore, experience and utilise the Antarctic environment without having adverse effects on it. The Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty implemented in 1998 sets out principles, procedures and obligations.
The protocol designates Antarctica as a natural reserve devoted to peace and science – and has taken a number of steps to manage visitor activities. It seeks to ensure that tourism and other human activities do not have adverse effects on the fragile ecosystem of Antarctica.
Specifically, sustainable tourism has characteristics like,
1. Less impact visitor behaviour
2. Appreciation of biodiversity and local cultures
3. Local participation in decision making
4. Assuring longevity and viability
5. Job creation
