Wild bears, double‐digit minus degrees and no comfortable luxury hotel within the range of vision‐ Polar Regions may not look like typical mass tourism destinations. But in fact – they are! For many years, people have been travelling by ship to the coldest regions at the end of the world for watching the abundance of wildlife and the great beauty of these unpopulated continents.
The Polar Regions are significant in global environmental change as they both are affected by climate change and influence global climate change. Climate change is expected to be greatest in Polar Regions: more rapid warming is predicted for the Arctic than for any other destination.
This increased publicity of Arctic climate change and global warming has created an unimaginable growth of natural tourism. Hundreds and thousands of people are now travelling for watching how ice is melting and animals are suffering for life.
The aim of this seminar paper is to examine aspects of a cold tourist destination and to deal critically with the impacts of tourism on Polar Regions. Therefore I am going to concentrate my focus on the following questions:
– What is polar tourism and how does it develop?
– How do both climate change and tourism affect Polar Regions?
– What are the reasons for increased polar tourism?
Therefore, the polar region is described in detail and the phenomenon of polar tourism is introduced. After a short description of cruise tourism in Polar Regions, special emphasis is put on the impacts of both climate change and tourists on the Arctic and Antarctic. Besides, the motivation for travelling to Polar Regions is explained and the polar bears viewing industry is examined.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Defining Polar Regions and polar tourism
2.1. The Polar Regions
2.2. Polar tourism
2.3. Cruise tourism in Polar Regions
3. Negative changes in the polar environment
3.1. Impacts of climate change on Polar Regions
3.2. Serious impacts on Polar Regions – made by tourists
4. Last-chance tourism and the polar bear viewing industry
4.1. Travelling in spite of melting ice
4.2. Polar bears as symbols of last-chance tourism
4.3. “Barriers to entry”
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Core Topics
This seminar paper examines the development and impacts of polar tourism within the context of global climate change. It investigates how rising temperatures and increased tourist traffic affect the sensitive polar ecosystems and explores the paradoxical nature of "last-chance tourism," where travellers contribute to the degradation of the very destinations they wish to witness.
- Analysis of polar tourism growth and its driving factors.
- Evaluation of climate change impacts on Arctic and Antarctic environments.
- Investigation of the environmental and social consequences caused by cruise tourism.
- Critical exploration of "last-chance tourism" and the polar bear viewing industry.
- Discussion of sustainability challenges in polar travel.
Excerpt from the Book
4.1. Travelling in spite of melting ice
As mentioned before, many publications, lifestyle and travel magazines have drawn attention to climate change and its impacts. Most of them started publishing articles featuring must-see endangered destinations like melting glaciers, bleaching corals or disappearing islands. Melting destinations were put onto the “must-see lists”. As a consequence, the warming Polar Regions led to a boom in tourism because of curious travelers rushing to the Arctic and Antarctic before ecosystems are gone. The opportunity to see wildlife species and polar landscapes before they were destroyed are nowadays key factors in travelers decision to visit this destination. However, the media followed with generally critical articles and “invented” a variety of names for this new phenomenon of tourism (‘catastrophe tourism’, ‘climate tourism’ or ‘climate change voyeurism’). Stewart was the first who started referring to the subject and added “last-chance tourism”. According to her, it best captures the motivational essence behind the trips in question, such as visiting destinations before it is too late. Tourism industry used this expression for describing increasing tourist interest for endangered Polar Regions.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the seminar paper's scope, including the growth of polar tourism and the central research questions regarding climate change, tourism impacts, and motivation.
2. Defining Polar Regions and polar tourism: Defines the geographical characteristics of the Arctic and Antarctic and introduces the concept and rapid growth of polar tourism.
2.1. The Polar Regions: Describes the physical environment of the Arctic and Antarctic, highlighting their status as vulnerable, largely unpopulated, yet increasingly accessed regions.
2.2. Polar tourism: Explores the reasons behind the booming interest in polar travel, including media influence and improved access for mass tourism.
2.3. Cruise tourism in Polar Regions: Discusses the rapid increase in cruise ship operations and the resulting pressure on sensitive polar environments and infrastructure.
3. Negative changes in the polar environment: Examines the dual impact of environmental shifts and human behaviour on these remote ecosystems.
3.1. Impacts of climate change on Polar Regions: Details the dramatic environmental consequences of warming, including permafrost thawing and threats to indigenous communities and wildlife.
3.2. Serious impacts on Polar Regions – made by tourists: Analyses the negative footprints of tourism, such as pollution, noise, greenhouse gas emissions, and social disruptions in local communities.
4. Last-chance tourism and the polar bear viewing industry: Focuses on the trend of tourists rushing to see endangered species and environments before they disappear.
4.1. Travelling in spite of melting ice: Discusses the phenomenon of travellers visiting endangered sites, often driven by the belief that these destinations will soon vanish.
4.2. Polar bears as symbols of last-chance tourism: Examines Churchill as a primary case study for the polar bear viewing industry and the tourists' resilient motivation to visit despite potential extinction.
4.3. “Barriers to entry”: Addresses the economic factors and physical challenges that dictate the scope and accessibility of polar tourism.
5. Conclusion: Synthesises the findings, emphasising the educational potential of polar tourism while warning about its unsustainable nature and the irony of tourists contributing to the destruction of the regions they visit.
Keywords
Polar tourism, Arctic, Antarctica, climate change, last-chance tourism, cruise tourism, polar bear, sustainability, greenhouse gas emissions, ecosystem, Churchill, environmental impact, tourism industry, nature-based tourism, climate change voyeurism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
This paper focuses on the critical examination of polar tourism, specifically how the industry has grown in the Arctic and Antarctic while simultaneously impacting these fragile environments through climate change and direct tourist influence.
What are the central themes discussed in this work?
The central themes include the physical impact of climate change on polar regions, the rapid growth of cruise tourism, the phenomenon of "last-chance tourism," and the environmental/social consequences of mass tourism in sensitive wilderness areas.
What is the main objective or research question?
The paper aims to investigate the development of polar tourism, how it affects the polar regions, and what motivates people to visit these destinations, particularly in the context of their endangered status.
Which scientific methodology is used?
The paper employs a critical analysis approach, synthesising existing literature, reports (such as the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment), and case studies to provide an overview of current trends and ecological impacts.
What specific topics are covered in the main section?
The main section covers the geographic definitions of polar regions, the mechanics of the polar cruise industry, the environmental destruction caused by human activity, and a detailed look at the polar bear viewing industry in Churchill.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is characterised by terms like polar tourism, climate change, last-chance tourism, environmental impact, Arctic, and sustainability.
How does the author explain the "ironic paradox" of polar tourism?
The author highlights that tourists often travel long distances to witness polar environments and species before they disappear, yet by engaging in this long-haul air and ship-based travel, they directly contribute to the greenhouse gas emissions that cause the very melting and destruction they seek to witness.
What does the study conclude about the future of the polar bear viewing industry?
It concludes that while the market is currently strong and resilient, the industry's long-term sustainability is highly questionable because it depends entirely on the continued existence of the polar bears—a species currently under threat of near-extinction due to the climate change factors the tourism industry itself helps perpetuate.
- Quote paper
- Undine Handorf (Author), 2011, Tourism booms as the Arctic melts. A critical approach of polar tourism, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/337597
