Facing the elements: analysing trends in antarctic tourism

Facing the elements: analysing trends in

Antarctic tourism

Machiel Lamers, Daniela Haase and Bas Amelung

Abstract

Purpose – Tourism in Antarctica is rapidly growing and diversifying, which raises concerns about its

impacts and the robustness of the current regulatory regime. Focusing on the analysis of past

developments and trends of Antarctic tourism, this paper aims to describe the future opportunities for

tourism in Antarctica.

Design/methodology/approach – Using literature on the recreation opportunity spectrum (ROS) and

ecotourism opportunity spectrum (ECOS), the paper analyzes the future opportunities of Antarctic

tourism and the key factors that determine the window of opportunity for Antarctic tour operators.

Findings – The analysis shows that tourism opportunities in Antarctica are defined by a combination of

factors, which the authors integrate into an Antarctic tourism opportunity spectrum (ATOS). The paper

argues that the opportunity settings for tourism in Antarctica vary from operations of increasing scale

and efficiency to the continued development of smaller scale niche products, both of which will continue

to diversify and drive the development of tourism in Antarctica.

Research limitations/implications – The paper is an attempt to transfer the concept of ROS, originally

designed for the operational level of national park management, to the more strategic level of tourism

trends in Antarctica. The research findings are based on stakeholder interaction within a limited number

of countries.

Practical implications – The paper is a potential source of information and advice for policy makers

and managers of Antarctic resources, as well as scholars interested in Antarctic tourism issues.

Originality/value – The paper contributes to the ongoing debate on the regulation of tourism in

Antarctica.

Keywords Antarctica, Tourism

Paper type Research paper

Introduction

The last two decades have seen a rapid development of tourism in Antarctica with increasing

visitor numbers (see Figure 1), and a diversifying supply of transport modes and activities.

Traditional small-ship expedition cruises that include landings are now complemented by

cruise-only itineraries without landings for large ships, fly-sail operations, and adventure

tourism activities such as kayaking, scuba diving or mountain climbing.

In view of these developments, tourism management is becoming an increasingly important

issue. The current regulatory framework consists of the provisions of the Antarctic Treaty

System (ATS) supplemented by external regulations from, e.g. the International Maritime

Organisation (IMO) and by industry self-regulation through the International Association of

Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) (Molenaar, 2005). Recent policy discussions at Antarctic

Treaty Consultative Meetings (ATCMs) have focused on the need for additional legal

instruments and measures, such as site-specific guidelines, to mitigate the effects of tourism

(ATS, 2004, 2005). Some authors (e.g. ASOC, 2006; Bastmeijer and Roura, 2004; Molenaar,

DOI 10.1108/16605370810861017 VOL. 63 NO. 1 2008, pp. 15-27, Q Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1660-5373 j TOURISM REVIEW j PAGE 15

Machiel Lamers is a PhD

researcher and

Bas Amelung is a

Researcher both based at

ICIS, Maastricht University,

Maastricht, The

Netherlands. Daniela Haase

is a PhD Researcher at

Gateway Antarctica,

University of Canterbury,

Christchurch, New

Zealand.