Development of a Framework for the Regulation of Tourism and Other Non-Governmental Activities in Antarctica


The Representatives,

Affirming the determination of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (“ATCM”) to continue to manage and regulate tourism and other non-governmental activities in the Antarctic Treaty area in accordance with the values, objectives and principles of the Antarctic Treaty and its Protocol on Environmental Protection (“the Protocol”);

Acknowledging the longstanding efforts of the ATCM to manage Antarctic tourism and other non-governmental activities, including the adoption of specific Measures, Decisions and Resolutions in support of the management of these activities;

Recalling Resolution 7 (2009) General Principles of Antarctic Tourism through which the ATCM articulated general principles to be used to inform and guide further work in managing Antarctic tourism activities;

Recognising the potential of properly managed tourism to enhance public appreciation of the intrinsic values of Antarctica;

Concerned by the actual and potential impacts of the recent large increase in visitation and diversification of tourism and other non-governmental activities in the Antarctic Treaty area;

Desiring to that end to continue to draw upon the best scientific and technical advice available, including relevant data, consistent with Article 10 of the Protocol;

Reaffirming their commitment to the comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems and the protection of Antarctica as a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science;

Reaffirming that protection of the environment is essential, and precaution is to be applied to preserve Antarctica for present and future generations;

Committed to ensuring that all activities undertaken in the Antarctic Treaty area are conducted as safely as possible;

Recalling that ATCM XLV initiated a dedicated process to develop a comprehensive and consistent framework for the regulation of tourism and other non-governmental activities in the Antarctic Treaty area (Decision 6 (2023));

Determined to take urgent, ambitious and comprehensive action, including with respect to the potential of broad and cumulative effects on the Antarctic environment of all human activities;

Aiming at developing such a framework in an expeditious manner;


Decide:

1. to develop a comprehensive and consistent framework for the regulation of Antarctic tourism and other non-governmental activities;

2. that the development of such a framework continues to be discussed in a special Working Group of the ATCM, taking into account:
best practices and examples developed by the ATCM;
- the relevance of existing practices and examples, including those developed by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (“IAATO”), and from around the world;
- existing requirements for information exchange under Decision 4 (2023) and any need to revise them;
- information exchanged through the Electronic Information Exchange System;
- results of monitoring and observation programmes;
- the implementation of the precautionary approach;

3. that the framework:
- be ambitious, comprehensive, dynamic and flexible;
- builds upon the specific Measures, Decisions and Resolutions in support of the management of tourism and other non-governmental activities as well as their implementation;
- addresses the orderly, coordinated and predictable conduct of tourism and other non-governmental activities, and does not undermine the objectives of governmental activities;
- addresses all aspects of tourism and other non-governmental activities, including but not limited to tourism’s relationship with the protection of the environment, scientific research, and the preservation of human life and safety;
- will be developed from discussions of the topics listed in the Annex with a view to addressing them in the framework; and

4. that the dedicated process referred to in Decision 6 (2023) is to be completed as soon as possible, noting that the 50th ATCM is expected to be held in 2028, and:
- will include intersessional work in the form of an ATCM intersessional contact group, convened by the Chair of the special Working Group, including online workshops as appropriate, taking into account different time zones;
- may, subject to available resources, include intersessional work in the form of:
- in-person workshops enabling virtual attendance;
- Meetings of Experts and/or Special ATCMs as agreed by the ATCM.