Tourism in an Extreme Environment - Antarctica

Question 1

Where is Antarctica?

Answer 1

It is a continent at the Earth’s South Pole. It covers ab area if 14 million sq km

Question 2

Why did Antarctica become a tourist resort?

Answer 2

98% of it is covered by ice
Tourists are attracted by scenery (e.g. icebergs), wildlife (e.g. penguins and whales)
The number of tourists is rising – there were 7413 in 1996/97 but 46,000 in 2007/8

Question 3

What are the problems of extreme tourism in Antarctica?

Answer 3

Antarctica is very cold and doesn’t get much sunshine in winter so the land ecosystems are very fragile – it takes them a long time to recover from damage. The sea ecosystem is also delicately balanced. This means tourists can have a massive impact on the environment there:
• Tourists can trample plants, disturb wildlife and drop litter
• There are fears that tourist could accidentally introduce non0native species or diseases that could wipe out existing species.
• Spillage of fuel from ships is also a worry, especially after the sinking of the cruise ship MS Explorer in 2007. Fuel spills kill molluscs and fish as well as the birds that feed on them.

Question 4

What are the solutions?

Answer 4

• The Antarctic Treaty is an international agreement that came into force in 1961 and has now been signed by 47 countries. It is designed to protect and conserve the area and its plant and animal life. In April 2009, the parties involved with the Antarctic Treaty agreed to introduce new limits on tourism in Antarctica – only ships with fewer than 500 passengers are allowed to land and a maximum of 100 passengers are allowed on shore at a time.
• The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators also has a separate Code of Conduct. It is voluntary, but most operators do stick to it. There are rules on:
o Specially Protected Areas which are off limits
o Wildlife must not be disturbed when being observed
o Litter - nothing can be left behind and there must be no smoking during shore landings
o Supervision – tourists must stay in their groups and be with a qualified guide
o Plant life – tourists must not walk on fragile plant life
o Waste – sewage must be treated biologically and other waste stored on board and taken away