IAATO estimates of Antarctic tourism for the 2014-2015

Brasilia, Brazil:  New figures released today by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), estimate that 36,545 tourists will travel with IAATO members to Antarctica next season, 2014-2015.  The information was reported at the first day of the 37^th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) in Brasilia, which IAATO attend as Invited Experts.

This number has only marginally increased since the previous season’s anticipated figure.  It consists of a slight decrease in both deep field and cruise only tourism and modest increases in combined air/cruise and traditional ship based tourism, which both offer opportunities for participants to go ashore.   Since 2009-2010, the total number of visitors has remained between 34,000 and 37,000 except for 2011-12, when numbers dipped to 26,500 principally due to the ban on the carriage of heavy fuel oil by ships in Antarctic waters.

Inline with previous seasons, most (71%) of tourists will continue to travel to the Antarctic Peninsula onboard vessels carrying fewer than 500 passengers that offer landings ashore.   Cruise only voyages, using ships with more than 500 passengers, do not make landings and are expected to account for 27% of visitors. Tourism involving flights to the Antarctic interior is predicted to be around 1% of the total number.

Marlynda Elstgeest, Chair of the IAATO Executive Committee said, “We really look forward to participating in the ATCM each year.  IAATO presents information that not only contributes towards Treaty Party discussions and decision making about the future of Antarctica, but also demonstrates its members’ commitment to operating in a safe, self sufficient and environmentally responsible way.”

Issued by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators.

* The table below gives a summary of estimates for the 2014-15 season.

About IAATO

IAATO is a member organization founded in 1991 to advocate, promote and practice safe and environmentally responsible private-sector travel to the Antarctic. IAATO currently has 118 members.  IAATO Members work together to develop, adopt and implement operational standards that mitigate potential environmental impacts. Numerous guidelines have been adopted over the last 20 years that have proven to be successful methods in avoiding such impacts. These include but are not limited to: site specific guidelines, site selection criteria, passenger to staff ratios, limiting numbers of passengers ashore, boot washing guidelines and the prevention of the transmission of alien organisms, wilderness etiquette, garbage policy, ship scheduling and vessel communication procedures, emergency medical evacuation procedures, emergency contingency plans, reporting procedures, marine wildlife watching guidelines, station visitation policies and more.

* Total reflects the use of the same vessel in multiple types of tourism; e.g. Landed/Peninsula and Air-Cruise/Peninsula

28 April, 2014