| Summary: | Historically, Antarctica has been a place only accessible in the far reaches of man’s imagination. So much was unknown about this mysterious white land at the bottom of the earth till the first explorers began crossing into the uncharted territories. A few courageous adventurers braved the elements during the heroic age from 1898 to 1917. Their stories brought life to a seemingly dead wasteland. However, it was still only available to the select few with funding, a strong desire to prove themselves in the world or a yearning for a grand adventure. This changed in the 1950’s with the start of a tourist industry in Antarctica. Now the numbers traveling to Antarctica every year are growing exponentially with 2008/2009 having numbers hovering around 40,000 visitors (IAATO, 2008). No longer do you need to be a fit, white male with a perfect medical exam to partake in such an endeavor. People with physical limitations have defied the odds to make the journey in the past, are doing so in the present and will continue in the future. Disabled travelers heading to Antarctica is a potential issue in the near future for Antarctic Tourism.
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