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The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators

TOURISM IN ANTARCTICA, 2020

Visitors have been experiencing Antarctica’s natural splendour through organised tours for 60 years. Tourism, like scientific research and fishing, is managed through the Antarctic Treaty’s unique global partnership that has governed Antarctica for more than a half-century and puts all territorial claims on hold. The entire continent is declared a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science.

THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ANTARCTICA TOUR OPERATORS (IAATO)

By 1990, there were seven tour operators active in Antarctica. It became evident that they would all benefit by setting aside competitive practices to coordinate with each other, especially in the areas of ship scheduling, safety and environmental protection. It was agreed that the operators would work together for the long-term protection of Antarctica, provide expert advice to Treaty Parties and meet client aspirations. On this basis, IAATO was formed in 1991 with a mission to advocate and promote the practice of safe, environmentally responsible private-sector travel to the Antarctic. Since that time thousands of visitors have experienced the natural wonders of the continent while leaving little or no trace of their visits.

WHAT IS IAATO?

Today the large majority of all tour operators operating in Antarctica are members of IAATO, including all commercial SOLAS passenger ship operators. The association’s membership comprises over 100 companies and organizations from all over the world. IAATO operators organize and conduct expeditions to Antarctica. They plan their activities to have no more than a minor or transitory impact on the environment, working within the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) framework to obtain a permit to operate. Not all Treaty Parties have ratified the ATS Environmental Protocol, so IAATO has endeavoured to fill any loopholes by requiring its member operators to supply Environmental Impact Assessments, even if their national authority does not request them.

IAATO membership categories also include Provisional Operators, who are in the process of demonstrating membership requirements to become operators; and Associate Members, which include companies booking onto IAATO Operator’s Antarctic programmes, ship agents, conservation groups and others who wish to support IAATO’s mission and vision.

The work of IAATO is facilitated by a Secretariat of eight employees; and supported by nine thematic committees and seven working groups covering strategic planning, field operations, marine and environmental issues, compliance and dispute resolution, plastic elimination, external stakeholder engagement, tourism growth, education and outreach.

FULFILLING IAATO’S MISSION OF SAFE, RESPONSIBLE ANTARCTIC TRAVEL

COLLABORATION

The future protection of Antarctica from the impacts of human activity requires careful management and collaboration on a global scale. To promote effective visitor management, IAATO annually shares detailed information on its activities with Antarctic Treaty Parties and works collaboratively with scientific institutions, particularly on long-term environmental monitoring and citizen-science systematic observations.

To promote safe, responsible private-sector travel, IAATO:

  • Assesses tourism trends, identifies areas for research and tackles challenges proactively, often in collaboration with members of the Antarctic community;
  • Works with governments on many different national and international platforms to support responsible management and regulation of Antarctic tourism;
  • Regularly reviews and develops guidelines, codes of conduct and procedures to safeguard Antarctica and its wildlife. These include standards for wildlife watching, protecting specific sites, waste management, banning the recreational use of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), preventing the introduction of non-native species and more;
  • Implements a mandatory scheme of periodic observations of all IAATO member operations;
  • Uses a bespoke web-based ship scheduling database system to help operators plan their itineraries before and during each field season and abide by IAATO and Treaty System requirements;
  • Is supporting the development of a Systematic Conservation Plan for the Antarctic Peninsula, led by the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (www.scar.org);
  • Launched the IAATO Polar Guide: Antarctica App for iOS and Android. This freely downloadable app works offline providing a “one stop shop” of IAATO and Antarctic Treaty System information for all Antarctic professionals and visitors;
  • Introduced “care and concern” policies to help field staff and visitors report any operation they feel has fallen short of Antarctic Treaty and/or IAATO requirements;
  • Raises visitor awareness of their obligations in Antarctica through comprehensive briefings and instructional video shorts in multiple languages;
  • Uses a web-based IAATO vessel tracking system that is shared with the five Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres covering the Southern Ocean, to enhance Search and Rescue capabilities;
  • Promotes excellence in guiding by providing an online Field Staff Assessment and Certification Programme;
  • Remains actively involved in the ongoing implementation of the IMO Polar Code;
  • Participates as invited observers in COMNAP meetings to liaise with National Antarctic Programmes; including offering a COMNAP/IAATO fellowship scheme.

IMPACTS FROM VESSEL-BASED OPERATIONS

Key methods developed by IAATO to reduce possible impacts from vessel-based operations include:

  • Creating a cruise only segment by prohibiting vessels carrying more than 500 passengers from making landings in Antarctica;
  • Requiring that tour operators coordinate their itineraries so that no more than one vessel visits a landing site at any one time;
  • Permitting no more than 100 passengers ashore at one time; with a guide to passenger ratio of no more than 1:20.

These standard operating procedures have been incorporated into Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting Measure 15 (2009): Landing of Persons from Passenger Vessels in the Antarctic Treaty Area.