General Principles of Antarctic Tourism
Considering the increase in visitation to Antarctica which has taken place since the adoption of the Environmental Protocol and the potential for further expansion;
Committed to the comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment;
Aware of the responsibilities of the Antarctic Treaty Parties to ensure that all activities undertaken in Antarctica are pre-planned to minimise any impact on the Antarctic environment;
Committed also to ensuring that all activities undertaken in Antarctica are conducted as safely as possible;
Recalling a range of previous instruments in relation to tourism and non-Governmental activities in Antarctica, including inter alia Recommendation XVIII-1 Tourism and Non-Governmental Activities, Measure 4 (2004) Insurance and Contingency Planning for Tourism and Non-Governmental Activities in the Antarctic Treaty Area, Resolution 4 (2004) Guidelines on Contingency Planning, Insurance and Other Matters for Tourist and Other Non-Governmental Activities in the Antarctic Treaty Area, Resolution 4 (2007) Ship-based Tourism in the Antarctic Treaty Area and Resolution 5 (2007) Tourism in the Antarctic Treaty Area;
Recognising that properly managed tourism can enhance public appreciation of the intrinsic values of Antarctica;
The Representatives, on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty,
Recommend that the following general principles be used to inform and guide further work in managing Antarctic tourism activities.
General Principles:
· All tourism activities undertaken in Antarctica will be conducted in accordance with the Antarctic Treaty, its Protocol on Environmental Protection, and relevant ATCM Measures and Resolutions;
· Tourism should not be allowed to contribute to the long-term degradation of the Antarctic environment and its dependent and associated ecosystems, or the intrinsic natural wilderness and historical values of Antarctica. In the absence of adequate information about potential impacts, decisions on tourism should be based on a pragmatic and precautionary approach, that also incorporates an evaluation of risks;
· Scientific research should be accorded priority in relation to all tourism activities in Antarctica;
· Antarctic Treaty Parties should implement all existing instruments relating to tourism and non-Governmental activities in Antarctica and aim to ensure, as far as practicable, that they continue to proactively develop regulations relating to tourism activities that should provide for a consistent framework for the management of tourism;
· All operators conducting tourism activities in Antarctica should be encouraged to cooperate with each other and with the Antarctic Treaty Parties to coordinate tourism activities and share best practice on environmental and safety management issues;
. All tourism organisations should be encouraged to provide a focus on the enrichment and education of visitors about the Antarctic environment and its protection.
Considering the increase in visitation to Antarctica which has taken place since the adoption of the Environmental Protocol and the potential for further expansion;
Committed to the comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment;
Aware of the responsibilities of the Antarctic Treaty Parties to ensure that all activities undertaken in Antarctica are pre-planned to minimise any impact on the Antarctic environment;
Committed also to ensuring that all activities undertaken in Antarctica are conducted as safely as possible;
Recalling a range of previous instruments in relation to tourism and non-Governmental activities in Antarctica, including inter alia Recommendation XVIII-1 Tourism and Non-Governmental Activities, Measure 4 (2004) Insurance and Contingency Planning for Tourism and Non-Governmental Activities in the Antarctic Treaty Area, Resolution 4 (2004) Guidelines on Contingency Planning, Insurance and Other Matters for Tourist and Other Non-Governmental Activities in the Antarctic Treaty Area, Resolution 4 (2007) Ship-based Tourism in the Antarctic Treaty Area and Resolution 5 (2007) Tourism in the Antarctic Treaty Area;
Recognising that properly managed tourism can enhance public appreciation of the intrinsic values of Antarctica;
The Representatives, on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty,
Recommend that the following general principles be used to inform and guide further work in managing Antarctic tourism activities.
General Principles:
· All tourism activities undertaken in Antarctica will be conducted in accordance with the Antarctic Treaty, its Protocol on Environmental Protection, and relevant ATCM Measures and Resolutions;
· Tourism should not be allowed to contribute to the long-term degradation of the Antarctic environment and its dependent and associated ecosystems, or the intrinsic natural wilderness and historical values of Antarctica. In the absence of adequate information about potential impacts, decisions on tourism should be based on a pragmatic and precautionary approach, that also incorporates an evaluation of risks;
· Scientific research should be accorded priority in relation to all tourism activities in Antarctica;
· Antarctic Treaty Parties should implement all existing instruments relating to tourism and non-Governmental activities in Antarctica and aim to ensure, as far as practicable, that they continue to proactively develop regulations relating to tourism activities that should provide for a consistent framework for the management of tourism;
· All operators conducting tourism activities in Antarctica should be encouraged to cooperate with each other and with the Antarctic Treaty Parties to coordinate tourism activities and share best practice on environmental and safety management issues;
. All tourism organisations should be encouraged to provide a focus on the enrichment and education of visitors about the Antarctic environment and its protection.