Environmental Impact of Tourism on Antarctica
This essay discusses the environmental impact of tourism on Antarctica.
The subheading Description will give an overview of the continent, highlight the unique landscape, weather patterns and research stations making up some of the tourist attractions of this continent.
The subheading Tourism in Antarctica gives an account of the type of tourist Antarctica attracts and their primary motive identifying scientific research staff as tourists as well as highlighting the current trends and growth towards ecotourism.
The History of the Australian Antarctic Territory will be discussed highlighting past errors in environmental management and the current trend of educational theme tours
…show more content…
It is covered by 90 per cent of the world's ice which has an average thickness of about 2,000 metres. Scarcely five per cent of this land mass is without permanent ice or snow, and only the coastal rock outcrops and highest mountain peaks project through the ice sheet. The Antarctic climate varies with altitude, distance from the sea and sea level. In winter the coastal temperature is between -15 to -30 degrees C. and -40 to -70 degrees C in the interior. The warmest weather visitors can expect during the hight of summer is zero degrees C. ( Bromley, 1985 p. 37).
There are three permanent Australian stations on the coast of the Australian Antarctic Territory, Casey, Scott and Mawson, providing headquarters for the scientific exploration of Antarctica. The stations main research disciplines are biology, botany, earth and atmospheric sciences, meteorological and medical research (SCAR / COMNAP, 1992, introduction.).
Historic development
Eric Lars Lindbland (cited in Luyendyk, 1995, p. 1) Stated that people search for challenge and education as well as relaxation on their vacations. This motive can be seen as the driving force behind the first tourism expeditions to Antarctica in 1958 aboard a Argentinian Naval transport vessel the Les Ecaireurs. Paul Dudley Hart in his account of the growth of tourism in Antarctica recounts the use of this and other government
Antarctica is one of the most rapid warming areas on the Earth, climate change on Antarctica is crucial to the world and the continent itself. Although climate change on Antarctica isn't widespread as it a wide place, only a small amount of impact is taking place. Some areas in Antarctica are experiencing decreases within the sea ice whereas other areas have an increase in sea ice. Both changes are causing negative impacts on wildlife. (Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition, 2014) Climate change has been a continuing scientific curiosity. Climate change is raising many concerns on not only the environmental and regulatory concerns but also within the economy, health, security, safety, and food production. (UNEP, 2009)
Antarctica is the coldest, driest, and most inhospitable continent on Earth. Yet it is yields some 90 percent of the Earth most precious natural resource: water. But behind this pristine exterior, Antarctica is fighting a losing battle. New data suggests that the continent as a whole is warming at an alarming rate. According to recent studies gathered from Nature Magazine, the western half of the continent is warming five times faster than any other place
Hundreds of algae species are scattered across the land, as well as around 100 species of linchen, 350 species of moss, and 2 grass species. The subantarctic islands surrounding Antarctica have a wider range of plants. About 45 bird species populate the area south of the Antarctica Convergence, and a few penguins and petrels actually live on the continent. The waters surrounding Antarctica are full of seabirds, fish, seals, and whales.
The island is a world heritage site in the Southern Ocean, south-east of Tasmania and between Australia and the Antarctica.
There are the tourists—those who seek temporary relaxation, or famous sights. There are the travelers—those who wander, without aim, for the love of moving. There are the explorers—those seeking adventure, the thrill of unearthing things rarely seen.
Tourism is a dynamic and competitive industry that requires the ability to adapt constantly to customers' changing needs and desires, as the customer’s satisfaction, safety and enjoyment are particularly the focus of tourism businesses. In her book Rosalie Schwartz defines tourists as “sedentary people who leave home for pleasure and intend to return.” But “leisure creates work, it requires the work from others to ensure tourists find the pleasure they’re looking for.” Schwartz thesis in the book is that tourism in Cuba completely changed the social and economic aspect of the island; the author focuses in three tourist peaks in Cuba starting in 1920s, 1950s, and finally the 1980s.
This essay will focus on the descriptions of Australian landscapes in the views of two different communities: of the inhabitants of this land and of the new settlers, and how this influences their interaction with living in this country. Then, it will discuss how appropriation of the land by the British colonists influenced the environment and how the settlements affected both the settlers and the natives.
Indigenous communities, which have otherwise been left untouched by traditional tourism activities, have now been targeted for a new tourism venture, ecotourism. A relatively new variant, ecotourism is described as environment-friendly, sustainable and nature-based. It came about as a response to the world’s growing environmental awareness. This activity involves “visiting relatively undisturbed natural areas with the aim
Antarctica is certainly the most pristine environment left on the earth. Unfortunately this is no longer the case because of multiple human activities that have led to environmental issues and concerns such as pollution, ozone layer thinning, global warming etc. Human impact is a serious threat to ecosystem and food chain of Antarctica.
Many people have different views about preserving Antarctica. Some people may view Antarctica as a scared environment and that it should not be destroyed by destructive human greed as the author states in “The Last Wilderness Preserve.” Others may view Antarctica as a wonderland that is the key to all the questions many ask about this world. The author’s claim in “A New Land of Opportunity.” However you feel about the topic it is clear that the author in”The Last Wilderness Preserve” supports his argument better and has the stronger argument.
Throughout my academic career, I have taken courses in Research Methods, Public Policy, International Relations and Politics and History of Alternative Tourism. Through this coursework, I have learned the importance
Antarctica is a cold, frozen, and mostly empty land found at the South Pole of the earth. Humans go there mostly for research and occasional tourism, though it's incredibly inhospitable, especially in the colder months. Due to the harsh environment, it remains the last true wilderness on earth and is protected by an international agreement called the Antarctic Treaty of 1961. In this Treaty, world leaders agreed that everywhere south of 60° south latitude would remain unclaimable by any country.
d) Antarctica has no mammals that live on land. In the Arctic, several land-based mammals can be found, including reindeer,
Douglas, N., Douglas, N., & Derrett, R. (Eds.). (2001), Special interest tourism: context and cases. Australia: John Wiley and Sons
As mentioned by Rimmington & Morrison (2009), the assistance from different parts of the world presents a new and diverse outlook for future research including theoretical innovations and revelations, cultural and environmental aspects, tourist destination and other ecotourism and recreational aspects of tourism and hospitality industry (Brotherton,