Managing Tourism in Antarctica – a Framework for the Future
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Managing Tourism in Antarctica – A Framework for the Future Harry Maher A thesis submitted for the degree of Masters of Tourism At the University of Otago, Dunedin New Zealand Date: 19 December 2005 i Abstract Antarctic tourism has been the subject of significant debate in recent years, not only within the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) but also in the wider community. A relatively recent but now well-established industry, tourism in Antarctica is characterised by high regional growth rates and the potential for significant impacts on the environments where it occurs. This thesis addresses the research question ‘Is the current regulatory system for managing tourism in Antarctica adequate to protect the Antarctic environment?’ It examines the general theories of management of tourism and recreation in protected and wilderness areas. The importance of the relationship between site values, tourism activities, impacts and management responses is highlighted. It is noted that contemporary protected area managers inevitably put in place robust and binding legislation, site-specific management plans, and management interventions to manage wilderness areas. The tourism management framework for Antarctica is presented, in both its historical and contemporary contests. The historical and current size and nature of the Antarctic tourist industry is analysed and presented, along with an in- depth examination of the values and attributes of the sites where that activity occurs. The actual and potential impacts of tourism in general and of the current levels of tourism in Antarctica are then discussed. A discussion regarding the adequacy of the current ATS tourism management regime is presented. The system is found to be inadequate across a range of critical factors. The current system is characterised as reactive, legally uncertain, technically-focussed and almost totally lacking in strategic approach. Adequate protection of the sites where tourism occurs is not certain. A range of improvements to the management of tourism in Antarctica is presented. Chief amongst these are the development of strategic policy for the sites subject to tourism, the development of management plans for key tourist sites, and the use of specific intervention tools at sites to achieve management planning objectives. ii Contents Abstract i Contents ii Figures, Tables and Maps .............................................................................................iv Acronyms and Abbreviations ........................................................................................v Chapter 1. Introduction................................................................................................1 1.1 Goals and Objectives of the Research ...........................................................2 1.2 Thesis Structure .............................................................................................3 Chapter 2. Methodology..............................................................................................4 2.1 Introduction....................................................................................................4 2.2 Secondary Research.......................................................................................4 2.3 Reflexivity......................................................................................................6 2.4 Personal Observations....................................................................................7 2.5 Limitations and Assumptions of the Thesis...................................................8 2.6 Summary........................................................................................................9 Chapter 3. Managing Tourism in Protected and Wilderness Areas ..........................10 3.1 General.........................................................................................................10 3.2 Legislation....................................................................................................15 3.3 Policies.........................................................................................................15 3.4 Management Strategies and Plans ...............................................................15 3.5 Management Actions ...................................................................................17 3.6 The Antarctic Situation................................................................................19 3.7 Summary......................................................................................................19 Chapter 4. The Antarctic Treaty System and the tourism regulatory regime............21 4.1 General.........................................................................................................22 4.2 Antarctic Treaty System ..............................................................................24 4.3 Non-ATS instruments ..................................................................................35 4.4 Industry Self-Regulation..............................................................................36 4.5 Critique of the Current System ....................................................................37 4.6 Summary......................................................................................................38 Chapter 5. Tourism in Antarctica ..............................................................................40 5.1 History..........................................................................................................41 5.2 Ship-Borne Tourism.....................................................................................42 5.3 Airborne Tourism.........................................................................................43 5.4 Other Tourism Types ...................................................................................44 5.5 Current tourism activities.............................................................................45 5.6 Summary......................................................................................................49 5.7 The Antarctic tourism environment.............................................................50 5.8 Specific Tourist Sites – Values, Use and Impacts .......................................61 5.9 Summary – Ross Sea Region.......................................................................72 5.10 Antarctic Peninsula – Tourist Sites..............................................................72 5.13 Summary – Antarctic Peninsula...................................................................83 5.14 Tourism Impacts ..........................................................................................83 iii 5.15 Summary....................................................................................................105 Chapter 6. Discussion..............................................................................................107 6.1 Performance of the Current Regulatory System ........................................109 6.2 Constraints on the Design of a Tourism Management System..................119 6.3 Alternative Tourism Management Systems for Antarctica .......................120 6.4 An improved Tourism Management System for Antarctic Tourism.........121 6.5 Summary....................................................................................................133 Chapter 7. Conclusions............................................................................................135 References ................................................................................................................137 Appendix One Components of the Antarctic Treaty System.....................................149 Appendix Two The Antarctic Treaty.........................................................................153 Appendix Three The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty160 iv Figures, Tables and Maps Figures Figure 3.1 Protected Area Management - Heirachy of Management 14 Instruments Figure 3.2 Tourism/Visitor Management Techniques 18 Figure 5.1 Antarctic Tourist Landing Trends 1992 - 2006 47 Figure 6.1 Management Planning/Response/Monitoring System 127 Tables Table 5.1 Summary Tourism Statistics 2004/05 Season 46 Table 5.2 Detailed Tourism Statistics 2004/05 Season 46 Table 5.3 Tourist Landing Statistics – Ross Sea Region 64 Table 5.4 Tourist Landing Statistics – Peninsula Region 76 Table 6.1 Potential Site Management Interventions 126 Maps Map 5.1 Overview map of Antarctic Continent 53 Map 5.2 Ross Sea Region 57 Map 5.3 Antarctic Peninsula Region 60 v Acronyms and Abbreviations ANI Adventure Network International ANZ Antarctica New Zealand ANZECC Australia and New Zealand Environmental and Conservation Council asl Above Sea Level ASMA Antarctic Specially Managed Area ASOC Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition ASPA Antarctic Specially Protected Area ASTI Area of Special Tourist Interest ATCM Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting ATCP Antarctic Treaty Consultative Party ATS Antarctic Treaty System BAS British Antarctic Survey CCAMLR Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources CEE Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation CEP Committee for Environmental Protection COMNAP Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programmes CRAMRA Convention for the Regulation of Antarctic Mineral Resource Activities EIA Environmental Impact Assessment IGY International Geophysical Year IAATO International Association of Antarctic Tourism