T+-+Antarctica

Small-scale tourism began in Antarctica in the the 1950s when commercial shipping began to take a few passengers. The first specially designed cruise ship made its first voyage in 1969. Some 9,000 tourists in 1992-93 have now grown to 37,000 in 2006-7 and to 46,000 in 2007-8. This is thousands more than the scientific workers and their support staff who are there temporarily for research purposes. Over 100 tourist companies are involved. In 2006, 38.9% of visitors were American, 15.4% British, 10.3% German and 8.4% Australian.

Tourists from the northern hemisphere usually fly to New Zealand or Argentina, taking their cruise ship onwards for one or two weeks. Smaller boats take them ashore at key locations for short visits, mainly to the peninsula or nearby islands.


 * __Attractions:[[image:Penguins.jpg align="right"]]__**
 * Wildlife
 * Scenery
 * Small boat cruising
 * Aircraft flight
 * climbing
 * camping
 * walking
 * helicopter flight
 * ice landing
 * kayaking
 * snowboarding
 * ship cruises
 * scuba diving
 * skiing

__**Problems:**__

The environmental impact of an individual tourit is much greater than that of a reasearcher. Landing sites are chosen for a special feature, so they quickly become honeypots. More than 99% of Antarctica is covered with ice, so little is left for tourist activity. Few visitors go on the ice.

Tourists only spend a short time ashore, but the impacts do not always reflect this. They want to visit the most picturesque and wildlife-rich areas. The impact is uneven but in places too great. Animals, especially penguins and seals, are disturbed by more than a few people. Not used to humans, they do not like to be touched. If they leave as a result, they may abandon eggs and young.

There have been accidents when ships have struck uncharted rocks or ice floes. The great majority of shipping in Antarctic waters is tourist-based. Oil spills are becoming an increasing hazard for wildlife. Tourist ships must discharge all waste materials well away from the shore of Antarctica.

__**Solutions:**__

All tour operators are members of IAATO, which directs tourism to be safe and environmentally friendly. Around 100 companies are involved. In line withe Antarctic Treaty, tourism is an acceptable activity in Antarctica - it is the scale that has to be controlled. Visitors are not allowed to visit Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in order to conserve precious wildlife and landscapes. Bird Island on South Georgia is one example.

Although tourist numbers have increased rapidly in Antarctica, protection remains a priority. A permit must be gained for any activites on the continent. No ship carrying over 500 passengers can land in Antarctica. Nevertgeless, there is concern that larger ships will eventually be allowed to land and that the volume of tourists will be beyond sustainable limits.