Polar Tourism: An Environmental Perspective

Tourism throughout the world raises environmental issues that are often concerned with conflicting rights and responsibilities: the inherent right of mankind to travel, the no-less inherent right of indigenous people to guard their environmental heritage, and the responsibility of governments – local, national or (in the unique case of Antarctica) international – to protect environments over which they exercise stewardship. Additionally, the presence of international commercial enterprises, especially marine and other mass transport modes, represent unique governance challenges. This book deals mainly with environmental issues and the management implications arising from polar tourism, one of the fastest-growing sectors of world tourism. However, many of the issues discussed here arise no less urgently in temperate and tropical wilderness areas, and indeed in any region where sensitive environments are subjected to mass tourism. The principles and guidelines discussed here are of interest and practical use in tourism studies generally.

"Readers of this book embark on a stimulating journey into the world of polar tourism. With a focus on management aspects and environmental implications, the intricacies of polar tourism are discussed in an educated and thoughtful manner. Further conceptual background is provided on wilderness and cultural tourism to enable an informed assessment of the framework within which polar tourism operates. A powerful concluding chapter applies the technique of Multiple Resource Management Planning to polar tourism. This book is a valuable resource for students, academics and policy-makers alike."-Daniela Liggett, Gateway Antarctica, University of Canterbury, New Zealand

Bernard Stonehouse has spent four winters and many summers in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic environments, conducting ecological and behavioural research on birds and mammals, and the impacts of man on flora, fauna and soils. His most recent research includes an 18-year study of the growth, development, environmental implications and management of Antarctic tourism.
John Snyder gained wilderness tourism experience as an Alaska Registered Guide and has applied his environmental management knowledge to assist Arctic governments and Native People. Those experiences were then used to evaluate tourism management issues in Antarctica and South Georgia. Most recently, he was a co-lead author of the Arctic Council's 2009 Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment.