Significance

• Responsible tourism guidelines have been established for Antarctic travel in the form of the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty. The protocol is designed to ensure that tourism and other human activities do not have negative impacts on the Antarctic environment. Ecotourism to Antarctica supports local conservation effort and benefits both travelers and local communities.
  
  

Features

• Environmentally responsible tours to Antarctica should adhere to specific rules in accordance with the Antarctic treaty. These rules include respecting restricted areas, preventing disposal of prohibited waste and ensuring that tourists are supervised by guides for the duration of their visit to Antarctica.
  
  

Warning

• When planning an ecotour to Antarctica, travelers should seek out tour companies that are members of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators, or IAATO. In addition, travelers should be aware of the global impacts of traveling thousands of miles to visit Antarctica in the form of carbon emissions, according to Discovering Antarctica.