| Summary: | Tourism in the Antarctic is mainly managed through the self-regulatory system undertaken by IAATO, which appears to be operating effectively for the moment. Antarctic tourism is defined in this report as being mainly recreational and/or educational activities in the Antarctic Treaty area. Issues around the management of tourism have been identified and explored with relevant examples from the literature and recent news sources. In doing so, we have come up with several key recommendations for the future of management and regulation for Antarctic tourism. These are ranked in priority order as follows: 1. The development of a strategic approach to tourism regulation which codifies IAATO’s bylaws; 2. IAATO levying fees in order to fund standardised environmental monitoring for the impact of all operations, with data to be made publicly available; 3. Improving port state controls; 4. Better management of cumulative impacts on intensively landed areas through ASPA an ASMA regulations; and 5. The establishment of a rapid response disaster fund, alongside the eventual implementation of Annex VI.
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