Environmental impact management of ship based tourism to Antarctica

Tourist visits and landings on the ice free areas of Antarctica is the most recent large scale human activity on this continent. More than 98 per cent of tourists visit by cruiseship, which means less than two per cent of tourism is land based. Environmental impacts are generally transient with pressure placed on repeatedly visited shore based attractions. This article investigates the effects of tourism on the environment in Antarctica, legislation as well as liability issues and how they are being managed.