The Antarctica It stopped being a site that only scientists and military personnel access. Antarctic tourism is growing and opening the way to numerous adventurers eager to discover the seventh continent. with the city of Ushuaia As the main base of operations, travelers from all over the world enjoy an experience as icy as it is unique. The capital of Tierra del Fuego, declared the capital of Antarctic tourism, is vital as a gateway to the white continent. Because it is the closest to the Antarctic Peninsula, it stands out as a base port and also as a port of call. For its part, the Malvinas Argentinas International Airport is essential, where air arrivals are constantly increasing.
From the Fuegian Institute of Tourism They explained that although “Antarctic cruises are oriented towards expedition/adventure type activities, during recent seasons there has been an increase in ships that provide luxury services, which also offer other activity options, such as diving, kayaking, stand up paddle, skiing, trekking, glamping, rides in zodiacs, helicopters and submersibles, among others.”
In its 2023/2024 report, the same entity stated that Antarctic cruises led with 74.3% of the total (+9% year-on-year). During that season, a total of 111,497 cruise passengers visited Antarctica on 447 trips. They were carried out by 55 ships that used the port of Ushuaia as a connection port to and/or from Antarctica.
History of Antarctic tourism
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship of the Argentine Republic, tourism is one of the two commercial activities that take place in Antarctica, along with fishing. The Madrid Protocol, as an integral part of the Antarctic Treaty, recognizes and legitimizes its existence by expressly establishing that its provisions are applicable, among others, to recreational and tourist activities.
The formal beginning of the Commercial tourist activity in Antarctica began in the summer of 1958 when the Argentine Naval Transport “Les Eclaireurs” transported tourists to the icy continent for the first time. Until the early 1980s, only a few hundred tourists visited the place. The ministry clarified that since the beginning of the nineties, tourist activities had a sustained increase not only in the number of tourists, but also in the number of sites visited and the frequency of landings.
Today, More than 90% of tourist activities in Antarctica are done through cruises. Tourist ships sail mainly in the Antarctic Peninsula region and the South Shetland Islands, and some also include South Georgia and the Falkland Islands among their Antarctic itineraries. More than 80% of cruise tourism departs from – or stops at some point in – the port of Ushuaia, between November and March, carrying out itineraries with an average duration of between ten and twenty days.
Antarctic tourism: prices and options
Ushuaia as a gateway to Antarctica has been showing great interest in both national and intentional tourism. The National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC) recently reported that the air terminal managed by London Supply Group received last December 132,614 passengers and stayed in number seven in the ranking of the ten most visited airports in the country. The air terminal is a key piece for Antarctic tourism, since it is there where connectivity becomes tangible. The tourist interest in the place is such that during 2024 a VIP room was inaugurated to improve the experience of travelers.
The options for Antarctic tourism are increasingly varied. From traditional cruises to exclusive options for the swinger community are among them. Beyond diversity, a common thread is luxury: Depending on the category, prices can start at approximately 5 thousand dollars and even reach 100 thousand dollars per person.
What do tourists who visit Antarctica do? One of the booming activities is the so-called ice baptism or “polar plunge”where travelers take a brief dip in waters where the temperature is less than 1°. He glamping is another favorite, with exclusive domes installed above the snow and views of truly unique landscapes.
Finally, another of the outstanding proposals is the penguin sighting and the fauna of the place (sea birds, seals and whales, among others), an expedition that includes many of the tour operators that come to Antarctica.
The importance of tourism responsibility
One of the issues associated with Antarctic tourism is its potential to produce impacts of varying magnitude on the environment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recognized. Among them, they mentioned, those caused by repeated visits to the same sites during the summer months can be highlighted, which usually coincide with the sites and the reproduction season of some Antarctic species. Its impacts may also be linked to the use of vessels, including marine pollution resulting from hydrocarbon spills.
In that sense, they emphasized, the Antarctic Treaty System established rules and guidelines that visitors and tour operators must comply within order to ensure that there are no adverse impacts on the Antarctic environment or its scientific and aesthetic values. In addition to complying with the provisions of the Madrid Protocol, Antarctic tourism must observe the provisions specifically regarding tourism in the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings.
Finally, the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) established strict protocols to minimize damage, with special emphasis on the carbon footprint.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
