Antarctic tourism is booming: Can it be sustainable?

Antarctic tourism has boomed in recent years with the remote continent attracting record numbers of tourists.

In 2024, an astonishing 122,000 people made the trip to Antarctica – a massive increase from the 44,000 visitors recorded in 2017.

A vast majority of tourists travelling with the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) arrive by cruise ship. Just one per cent reach the continent by plane.

Luxury cruises have made the destination accessible to a wider variety of people and it is now a firm bucket list adventure for many. There are regulations which control the frequency, duration and number of guests visiting any site in the region with no more than 100 people allowed to land at a site at any one time.

While in cruising terms, a ship with less than 270 guests would normally be considered small, for the Antarctic any vessel with 150-270 passengers is considered large as not everyone can land at one time. Many luxury ships with more than 200 guests make more than one landing a day.

The rapid increase in Antarctic tourism has left experts concerned about environmental consequences. Human presence in this fragile ecosystem comes with a myriad of different risks.

Black snow and carbon emissions: What impact is tourism having on the Antarctic?

Conservationists say the increase in tourism traffic is already having an impact in the Antarctic. Researchers from the University of Santiago de Chile have found that the blinding white frozen landscape of the continent is turning black.

Snow surrounding tourist landing sites and research stations has been getting darker every year. They confirmed that this dramatic anomaly is being caused by black carbon produced by the ships, helicopters, planes, trucks and diesel generators humans bring to Antarctica.

Darker snow means snow melts faster, with researchers estimating that every visitor causes Antarctica to lose around 83 tonnes of snow. Researchers bring more vehicles so are undeniably having a greater impact but tourists too are adding to the problem.

Carbon emissions from cruise ships are also a problem. The average tourist trip to Antarctica results in 5.44 tonnes of CO2 emissions per passenger, or 0.49 tonnes per passenger and day. It all contributes to global warming driving rising temperatures in the continent.

Just this year, scientists observed a heatwave in Antarctica where temperatures reached 10C above average.

There’s also the risk of non-native species hitchhiking on passengers’ clothing, and tour groups disturbing wildlife when they visit. These ecosystems, already under threat from climate change, are now buckling under the pressure of increasing tourism.

What can be done to minimise the impact of Antarctic cruises?

Some cruise companies are trying to minimise the environmental impact of the travellers they take to Antarctica. Quark offers ‘small’ expeditions with more immersive experiences and vessels that can travel to remote areas not overcrowded with big cruise ships.

“Sustainability is at the core of everything we do at Quark Expeditions,” says Lyndsey Lewis, the company’s head of sustainability.

“It informs how we operate within our organisation, design and execute our expeditions, and engage with the pristine environments we are privileged to explore.”

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For guests on cruises run by Quark and other IAATO members, there is a mandatory briefing on protecting the Antarctic.

It features information like how to decontaminate your boots before coming back on board, vacuuming seeds or other foreign materials off of clothing and generally cleaning your gear to prevent the contamination of the Antarctic.

At the moment that also includes safeguarding against the growing threat of avian influenza in the region. After major outbreaks in South America, the virus was first detected in Antarctica in late 2023/early 2024. Limiting the spread is vital to prevent the collapse of the continent’s isolated wildlife populations.

Enabling research in remote regions too is a focus for the travel company.

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“We actively collaborate with researchers and conservationists by welcoming them onboard our vessels and facilitating their access to some of the most remote areas of the Arctic and Antarctic,” Lyndsey adds.

“These partnerships allow scientists to conduct vital fieldwork and gather invaluable data that advance our collective understanding of these fragile ecosystems.”

Quark says it has been partnered with Penguin Watch, an initiative focused on studying penguin ecology and developing practical conservation strategies, for 13 years. Researchers hosted on board the company’s ships have conducted counts of penguin colonies, collecting critical data and sharing their insights with passengers.

This research provides insights for policymakers about which areas are most vulnerable to climate change, fishing and human disturbance. It also informs IAATO, the Antarctic Treaty and the governments of the UK and South Georgia.

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Lyndsey says the presence of researchers, more time spent in destinations and immersion in the environment means travellers return with “heightened awareness” of the threats this remote continent faces.

But, though Quark’s vessels have the ability to be converted to sustainable low-carbon fuels, the biggest challenge at the moment is the availability of that fuel. Despite running fuel-efficient engines and systems that convert waste into energy, emissions are still a problem.

Sailing the Antarctic on a historic tall ship

Commercial cruises aren’t the only option for sailing to the Antarctic and less modern methods may offer a way to make the trip without the associated emissions.

After years of working on environmental initiatives, Larissa Clark wanted to reach South America without flying. Her answer was to sail across the Atlantic from the Canary Islands to Brazil on a 100-year-old Dutch tall ship.

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“After I disembarked in Brazil on my own voyage, the tall ship kept sailing south all the way to Antarctica,” Larissa explains.

“I was captivated by the idea you could experience such a place on a historic vessel like this and wanted to help others discover the alternative to the well-marketed cruises that they’d otherwise likely heard about.”

Crossing the Atlantic like this was a life-changing experience, she adds, but one that was difficult to find. Larissa’s travel agency Another World Adventures was born as a result.

“I especially liked the idea of using sailing vessels to visit this vast wilderness because of their lower carbon footprint,” she says, particularly those that operate with a focus on environmental awareness and education. Not only is it a unique experience but relying on wind power to cross the notorious Drake Passage cuts down on fossil fuel use.

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Another World Adventures only uses vessels that are members of IAATO. This ensures they stick to strict environmental regulations in the region and contribute to research data collection during voyages to areas rarely visited by other ships.

“In particular I felt that the smaller group size that comes with a sailing vessel – the three vessels I work with carry between 12 and 40 guests at a time, some only visiting every couple of years – ultimately puts less pressure on sensitive ecosystems,” Larissa says.

Curious tourists are putting the Antarctic at risk

The draw of this otherworldly environment is understandably immense – Antarctic tourism is by no means a new thing.

“The fascination to experience remote and fragile wilderness like Antarctica is not new, but the explosion in the number of people visiting certainly is,” Larissa explains.

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Slow travel still isn’t perfect – no travel to Antarctica can be impact-free. Larissa’s under no impression that people don’t fly to their port of departure either but some do choose to sail all the way from Europe to make the Antarctic crossing.

“Travellers have choices and I would encourage anyone thinking about a trip to Antarctica to choose an operator, like the tall ships I work with, that prioritises environmentally responsible practices such as wind power for propulsion, smaller passenger numbers, adhering strictly to IAATO regulations, and actively educating passengers about the importance of preserving the Antarctic environment,” she adds.

And, alongside knowing you are making a more sustainable choice, you also get a unique sailing experience. One which, as Larissa points out, allows you to form a much deeper connection to the natural world.