Tourism in Antarctica

Tourism in Antarctica began by the sea in the 1960s, with people coming to see the icy land from ships. Later, in the 1970s, airplanes started flying over Antarctica for sightseeing trips from places like Australia and New Zealand. These air tours stopped for a while but started again in the 1990s.

The tourist season for Antarctica happens during the summer, from November to March. Most visitors come during this time. In the years between 1999 and 2000, about 14,762 people visited Antarctica, and most of them were on cruise ships. By the season of 2009 to 2010, the number of visitors grew to over 37,000 people.

Landing in Antarctica

Tourism companies need special permission to visit Antarctica, as allowed by the Antarctic Treaty. Since no single country owns Antarctica, the countries that agree to the treaty give out these permissions instead of regular travel visas. For instance, an Australian traveler would need to follow rules set by the Australian Antarctic Division.

Many tours arrive by cruise ships that use small boats or helicopters to reach the shore. Some visits let people go mountain climbing, skiing, or even see the South Pole.

Sea cruises

In the 1920s, a ship from the Falkland Islands made trips to islands near Antarctica. It carried a few passengers as tourists, which were likely the first people to visit Antarctica for fun.

Modern sea trips to Antarctica began in 1969 with a special ship created by Lars-Eric Lindblad. Many of these trips start from Ushuaia in Argentina and last between 10 days and 3 weeks.

Some big ships have visited Antarctica, but rules now limit how many people can get off the ship at one time. By 2025, about 124,000 people visited Antarctica each year, mostly on trips from South America. Scientists worry about how many visitors might copy dangerous things they see online.

Scenic flights

Most scenic flights to Antarctica started from Australia and New Zealand. The first flight happened in February 1977. These flights usually just fly over Antarctica and do not land there.

Air New Zealand began its first scenic flight on February 15, 1977, using big airplanes called DC-10s. These flights took about 12 hours and flew over places like Ross Island and McMurdo Sound. Later, they changed their route to fly closer to the ground for better views.

Qantas, another airline, started its first Antarctic flight in February 1977. They used large Boeing airplanes and flew routes along the coast of Antarctica. Qantas stopped these flights for a while but started them again in 1994 and still operates them today during the summer months. These flights also last about 12 hours and can cost between $1000 and $8000.

In 2020, Qantas began flying from more cities in Australia, including Brisbane, using newer airplanes called Boeing 787 Dreamliners. These flights can take a bit longer, about 14 and a half hours. There have also been scenic flights from Chile as early as 1958.

Yachting

Private yacht trips began in the Southern Ocean in the late 1960s. One famous journey was made by David Henry Lewis in 1972.

Today, around 30 yachts visit the Antarctic Peninsula each year. This area is warmer than other parts of the continent. Many short cruises, lasting four days, start from Tierra del Fuego in Argentina, and others from Ushuaia or Stanley. Only small boats are allowed to let their crew members go ashore.

Land activities

People can enjoy camping, hiking, and cross-country skiing on the land in Antarctica. These fun activities have grown more popular lately, with more visitors coming to explore the area.

Regulations

The rules that protect Antarctica also help keep tourists safe and careful. When people visit, they must follow important guidelines to protect wildlife, respect scientists' work, and keep the environment safe.

Countries have their own ways to help, like making sure ship captains get special training or sending representatives to watch visits. Even though each visitor tries to be careful, too many people visiting the same places can still hurt the environment and make it harder for scientists to study there.