Antarctic tourism represents the largest and fastest growing commercial activity on the Antarctic continent. Under
consideration of its unprecedented growth and diversification, the Antarctic tourism sector is viewed with increasing
scrutiny and concern. This concern is expressed in discussions surrounding the success and effectiveness of the
existing regulatory framework for Antarctic tourism and asks what changes might be required to adequately protect
the Antarctic continent in the future. Viewpoints and interests among Antarctic tourism operators, policy-makers,
researchers and other stakeholders diverge, and Antarctic tourism is discussed as being either or both benefactor
and detractor to the environmental and political integrity of Antarctica. This thesis discusses, regulations drawing on
regime theory, the effectiveness of Antarctic tourism. It postulates the theory that the combined regulatory efforts of
Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties (ATCPs) and industry self-regulation through the International Association of
Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) define the Antarctic tourism regime.
Using interviews and a Delphi study as the primary methods of inquiry, stakeholder viewpoints on regulatory and
operational characteristics of Antarctic tourism were collected and integrated into a discussion of the effectiveness of
the current regulatory regime and an assessment of potential options for regulating Antarctic tourism in the future.
The interviews provide insights particularly into operational matters and the in situ practice of tour operators and their
compliance with existing regulations. The Delphi study focuses on how the current regulatory issues are addressed,
how rules and regulation are enacted and whether the current regulatory framework needs improvement.
The thesis research shows that Antarctic tourism stakeholders are concerned about the increasing scale and diversification
of Antarctic tourism and generally subscribe to a conservation imperative when assessing potential options
for the future regulation of Antarctic tourism. The Antarctic Treaty System is regarded as being stable and having
matured over the years, although the regime has not been tested to any great extent. Tourism development in the
Antarctic may well prove to be a first test of the stability and success of the Antarctic Treaty System. Stakeholders
desire a continued strong partnership between Antarctic Treaty Parties and IAATO regarding the regulation of Antarctic
tourism, but conclude that in view of the rapid development of Antarctic tourism, structural, institutional and
legislative changes are necessary if Antarctic tourism regulation is to remain successful.
The thesis argues that these necessary changes do not inevitably involve a complete overhaul of the existing regulatory
regime for Antarctic tourism and that a new overarching regulatory instrument such as a tourism convention may
neither be the most desirable nor feasible approach to regulating tourism to the Antarctic. Instead, this thesis research
suggests that regulatory improvements need to build on the strengths of the current regime and on a strategic
vision that should guide the future regulation of Antarctic tourism.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:canterbury.ac.nz/oai:ir.canterbury.ac.nz:10092/1589 |
| Date | January 2008 |
| Creators | Haase, Daniela |
| Publisher | University of Canterbury. Gateway Antarctica |
| Source Sets | University of Canterbury |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic thesis or dissertation, Text |
| Rights | Copyright Daniela Haase, http://library.canterbury.ac.nz/thesis/etheses_copyright.shtml |
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