Is COVID-19 helping or hindering effective management of Antarctic tourism? ...

• Main Authors: Nielsen, Hanne, Cajiao, Daniela, Roldan, Gabriela, Herbert, Andrea, Yu-Fai, Leung, Dinica, Valentina
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Open Access Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington 2023
• Subjects: Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.25455/wgtn.19624386; https://openaccess.wgtn.ac.nz/articles/journal_contribution/Is_COVID-19_helping_or_hindering_e_ective_management_of_Antarctic_tourism_/19624386/1

Antarctica is the most isolated continent on Earth, and ship-based tourism is the main access route for people to visit the place. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted Antarctic tourism, disrupting both travel to the continent and the management of human activity in Antarctica. Here we present a short overview of (1) the Antarctic tourism status quo during the COVID-19 pandemic and (2) a SWOT analysis of the future challenges and opportunities COVID-19 poses for those operating in such a remote wilderness area. We suggest that the pause in Antarctic tourism caused by the pandemic offers a unique opportunity to consider a more adaptive model of Antarctic tourism management rather than return to business as usual. ...