Tourism is the activity that brings the largest number of people to Antarctica nowadays. It is a topic that is hotly debated at the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in New Delhi this week.

In the last decade, tourism has swiftly emerged as the activity that is bringing the largest number of people to Antarctica. The number of shipborne visitors has increased by four-fold between 1995 and 2005. The 2006/07 season saw the largest tourist vessel ever to operate in Antarctic waters. The Golden Princess carried 3,700 persons: more people than the peak summer population for all Antarctic national programs.

Up to now, Antarctic tourism is not regulated. There are some reporting obligations, voluntary guidelines relating to particular sites, and generic environmental impact assessment obligations for all who go to Antarctica. But there’s nothing to say what you can and cannot do by way of tourism, and nothing to stop numbers increasing.

In case of accidents, it is also not clear who will be in charge of the rescue and clean-up operations, and who will pay for them. So far, there have not been any catastrophes but accidents are not impossible. Last year, the M/S Nordkapp of Norwegian Coastal Voyage grounded at Deception Island. 500-750 litres of marine diesel were spilled but the 300 passengers were safe and sound. One might wonder what would happen if a large
non-ice-strengthened ship the Golden Princess was to get into a similar situation.

As in previous years, there are many issues to be discussed. These include setting limits for the number of passengers onboard tourist ships and limiting land-based tourism. As diplomacy is a slow process, it is likely that few concrete decisions will be made this year.

Photo credits: Jan Will