Penguins, Petrols, and Pollution: Regulating Tourism in Antarctica
Presentation Type
Poster
Presentation Type
Submission
Department
International Studies and Languages
Major
Political Science
Abstract
Antarctic tourism has surged from 8,000 visitors in 1990 to over 122,000 in 2023, concentrated overwhelmingly in the Antarctic Peninsula. In the absence of binding tourism-related regulation within the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS), a non-governmental organization, the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), has emerged as the industry's primary enforcer. How effective has IAATO been in protecting the Antarctic Peninsula from environmental degradation? This paper triangulates existing scholarship, including environmental impact reports, cruise ship company reports, and documented cases of non-compliance, to evaluate IAATO's standards. The analysis reveals that IAATO has been operationally effective at the site level through landing limits, scheduling systems, and biosecurity protocols, but it has not regulated overall tourism growth and cannot address systemic risks such as the introduction of invasive species and the accumulation of marine debris. In sum, this paper argues that voluntary, industry-led governance has not been a substitute for binding multilateral regulation with an empowered Secretariat to monitor and enforce adherence as Antarctic tourism continues to expand. The findings underscore the urgent need for the ATS to move beyond non-binding resolutions and establish enforceable limits to protect one of the world's last relatively untouched ecosystems.
Faculty Mentor
Felicity Vabulas
Location
Waves Cafeteria
Start Date
10-4-2026 1:00 PM
End Date
10-4-2026 2:00 PM
Penguins, Petrols, and Pollution: Regulating Tourism in Antarctica
Waves Cafeteria
Antarctic tourism has surged from 8,000 visitors in 1990 to over 122,000 in 2023, concentrated overwhelmingly in the Antarctic Peninsula. In the absence of binding tourism-related regulation within the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS), a non-governmental organization, the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), has emerged as the industry's primary enforcer. How effective has IAATO been in protecting the Antarctic Peninsula from environmental degradation? This paper triangulates existing scholarship, including environmental impact reports, cruise ship company reports, and documented cases of non-compliance, to evaluate IAATO's standards. The analysis reveals that IAATO has been operationally effective at the site level through landing limits, scheduling systems, and biosecurity protocols, but it has not regulated overall tourism growth and cannot address systemic risks such as the introduction of invasive species and the accumulation of marine debris. In sum, this paper argues that voluntary, industry-led governance has not been a substitute for binding multilateral regulation with an empowered Secretariat to monitor and enforce adherence as Antarctic tourism continues to expand. The findings underscore the urgent need for the ATS to move beyond non-binding resolutions and establish enforceable limits to protect one of the world's last relatively untouched ecosystems.