Antarctic visitor behaviour: are guidelines enough?

• Published in: Polar Record
• Main Author: Davis, Pamela B.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1995
• Subjects: Antarctic; Antarc*; Polar Record
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0032247400013875; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0032247400013875

Abstract The general pattern of Antarctic tourism is well known and can be described in terms of numbers of visitors, landing sites, and general activities. However, little is known about the visitors, their behaviour, and other user characteristics. This information is vital for planning effective visitor-management strategies. This article presents and discusses some results from a 1993/94 questionnaire conducted aboard three IAATO member ships and focuses on how visitors rated the behaviour of themselves and others vis-à-vis the IAATO voluntary visitor guidelines. It also identifies how sex, age, educational level, and ship affect guideline violation or adherence. Additionally, passenger responses to hypothetical violations are discussed, which may help to explain why violations occur. This paper stresses not how many violations occur, but why they occur, providing a new insight for future visitor management.