Antarctic tourism and environmental policy: policy shortcomings and suggested responses

Cicin-Sain, BilianaWilliams, Christopher K.Ecotourism, a niche form of tourism focusing on nature, wildlife, and education, is a product of the global environmental movement in the 1970s. By the early 1990s, ecotourism, along with similar nature-based and adventure tourism, had become among the fastest growing sectors of the tourism industry worldwide, and remains so today (Society, 2012). Ecotourism-style travel to the delicate Antarctic region, the only place on earth without a permanent human population, has also grown rapidly since the 1990s, and continues to grow in terms of numbers of tourists as well as diversity of activities undertaken. The success and sustainability of the industry, and avoidance of environmental degradation, however, depend on adequate environmental and tourism policy. While the Antarctic Treaty System and the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators have been successful in managing the modern Antarctic tourism industry, growth and expansion are outpacing the existing regulatory mechanisms in place for management, governance, and conservation. There are areas of policy weakness and gaps in environmental and tourism policy, particularly with regard to new, emergent forms of tourism. There are also challenges to the structure and comprehensiveness of Antarctic governance. Without attention to these issues, including a proactive, strategic, comprehensive approach to tourism and environmental management, these shortcomings could lead to degradation of the Antarctic environment and wildlife, as well as risks to human safety. The main questions guiding this research are: 1. Is tourism growth outpacing current policy and regulation in relation to the Antarctic environment? 2. Can (eco)tourism be a tool for conservation, particularly with regard to growing interest in access to Antarctic Resources? 3. Where are the critical policy gaps and weaknesses, under the governance system provided by the Antarctic Treaty System, and the International Association of Tourism Operators, requiring attention, and how might these most effectively be resolved? These research questions are addressed through three phases of research; literature review, unstructured expert interviews, and an international survey of Antarctic stakeholders. The survey poses questions about policy shortcomings and potential actions. Results from all three phases are evaluated in sum, in order to produce answers to research questions, as well as conclusions and recommendations. Results show convergence among all three phases of research on nearly all issues evaluated. Policy shortcomings identified in literature review are shared in survey findings, including areas related to the ATS, IAATO, and outlier tourism. Conclusions indicate the need for a precautionary approach to policy creation, resolving knowledge gaps through data collection and research, education for all travelers, and increased inclusion of ATCPs on tourism matters.University of Delaware, Department of Entomology & Wildlife EcologyPh.D.University of Delaware, Energy and Environmental Policy Progra