THE IMPACT OF TOURISM IN ANTARCTICA

1
THE IMPACT OF TOURISM IN ANTARCTICA
Dr Shaun Russell, Director, Wales Environment
Research Hub, Bangor, UK
2
IAATO estimates that more than 40,000 tourists
will visit Antarctica in the 2007-8
season.(IAATO - International Association of
Antarctica Tour Operators)
Tourism to Antarctica is increasing rapidly (by
14 last year compared to the 6 annual growth
in global tourism)
3
Antarctic tourism

• Cruise ships (landing and non-landing)
• Fly-cruise and over-flights
• Small commercial and private vessels
• Adventure tourism (climbing, skiing kayaking,
  diving etc)

Patriot Hills Camp (picture courtesy IAATO)
4

• Some individual sites in Antarctica are
  receiving large numbers of tourists

e.g. 16,000 visitors to the historic site of
Port Lockroy in the Antarctic Peninsula last year.
5
Human Impacts in Antarctica

• Ozone layer thinning
• Greenhouse warming
• Ice-melt
• Ocean circulation changes
• Disruptions to biological/ecological cycles

6
Potential Human Impacts in Antarctica

• Introductions of non-native species
• Disturbance to animal and plant populations
• Transmission of diseases

7
Potential Human Impacts in Antarctica

• Removal of souvenirs
• Disruption of research activities
• Aesthetic impacts

8
Potential Human Impacts in Antarctica

• Pollution
• Maritime accidents

MS Nordkapp grounding 2007
Photos courtesy Dr John Shears, British Antarctic
Survey
Bahia Paraiso fuel spill 1989
9
Carbon Footprint

• The growing popularity of Antarctic tourism
  combined with predicted decreases in annual
  sea-ice extent is likely to stimulate more
  voyages to Antarctica by greater numbers of
  vessels. This would contribute to an increase in
  the Carbon footprint of Antarctic tourism.

10
Antarctic tourists may already have a higher
carbon footprint than most other tourists

• Long-haul flights to reach ports of departure in
  the southern hemisphere.
• Long-distance cruise legs.
• Maintenance of high-energy luxury on-board
  environments to ensure client comfort in polar
  conditions.

• Extensive use of small power boats for landing
  operations
  

11
Current lack of knowledge
There are as yet, few if any published analyses
for the carbon footprint of cruise ship tourism
. (comparative figures below for a journey in
Europe)
www.climnet.org
12
Antarctic tourists generally

• Value wilderness environments
• Appreciate wildlife
• Are environmentally concerned
• Seek to gain further knowledge and understanding
  of the environment
• Pass on this knowledge to others
• Are good advocates for Antarctic conservation

13
So shouldnt the Antarctic tourism industry be
leading the way and doing more to develop green
operating standards?

• Challenge
• not all Antarctic tourism enterprises are
  members of IAATO or abide by the protocols and
  codes of conduct observed by the majority of
  responsible operators

14
Summary

• Antarctica is often cited as the last pristine
  and untouched wilderness on Earth
• Tourism to Antarctica is increasing rapidly (by
  14 last year compared to 6 annual growth in
  global tourism)
• There is an increased potential for maritime
  accidents and damage to habitats
• The Carbon footprint of Antarctic tourists may
  be higher than that for other tourists (research
  needed)
• The industry could be doing more to improve its
  green credentials.

s.russell_at_bangor.ac.uk