Trade Travel And Tourism In The Arctic Ocean: Arctic tourism poses a threat to the environment as the ice melts. Arctic Circle travel has become more like a vacation than an Adventure as the sea ice recedes and temperatures rise. For centuries, attempts to traverse the Arctic Circle by boat have resulted in failure and even death. However, as sea ice melts and the environment warms, polar travel has become more of a holiday than an adventure.
Arctic sea ice coverage in December was 420,900 square miles lower than the 1981-2010 average, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center. This area is more than one-and-a-half times the size of Texas, and it has the lowest satellite level since 1979. The Nordic countries and Greenland have been at the forefront of Arctic tourism. In 1990, only 7,952 cruise passengers visited Iceland, a 75 percent reduction from the previous year. By 2016, the country has attracted over a quarter million Visitors per year. Last year, the number of visitors to Russia’s Arctic climbed by 20%, with the bulk of those visitors being Chinese.
Although there is a chance that an oil spill or sewage leak will harm the fragile polar habitat, experts believe it is a risk worth taking. “It is not a question of if, but when,” Jackie Dawson, an associate professor at the University of Ottawa, noted. It appears that a tragedy will inevitably occur in the Arctic as a result of climate change and human activity. For shipwrecked sailors, travel in the Arctic is difficult and perilous due to severe and frequently changing weather conditions. The elevation of the latitude also causes disruptions in maritime navigation and communication.
The Northwest Passage
Which runs 500 nautical miles north of the Arctic Circle, and was the first marine route through Canada’s Arctic Archipelago in 1906. Marta Bystrowska, a climate scientist earning her Ph.D. in Arctic tourism at the University of Silesia in Poland, notes that since then, the vast bulk of Arctic excursions has consisted of minimalist research vessels. Passengers boarding ships bound for the Arctic Circle are increasingly expecting a first-class experience, according to Bystrowska. “During a cruise, customers can enjoy great cuisine, nice rooms, and additional activities like scuba diving or kayaking.”
It’s feasible that the cruise industry will shift to larger ships in order to fulfill rising demand and increase the profitability of holidays. In 2016, the Serenity, a 13-story Crystal Cruises ship, traveled through the Northwest Passage, and was a sight to behold. In addition, 900 passengers dined in the ship’s beautiful dining room and gazed out their private balconies onto the glaciers. Since Serenity’s inaugural voyage, boutique businesses have followed suit. Abercrombie and Kent offer a 24-day trip as part of their Northwest Passage itinerary for $30,995. A personal butler will cost an additional $10,000. Quark Expeditions is providing a vacation with rates starting at $28,695 to get closer to the heart of the Arctic.
A hot air balloon ride to the North Pole costs an extra $500 per passenger. These ships must be able to withstand the extreme conditions that once made sailing in the Arctic the most challenging task on the planet. The IHO’s Polar Code was formed in 2016 to ensure that tour operators were appropriately prepared for the harsh weather and isolation of the Arctic. It also prohibits ships from discharging food waste or sewage. The code, which is imposed by two international accords, is enforced by the IMO’s 172 member states. This document also does not specify what penalties should be imposed for non-compliance.
Crystal Cruises will utilize the Endeavor
A 600-foot megayacht that complies with the Polar Code and has two helicopters and two seven-person submarines, in the region beginning next year. “The Arctic has a mystical quality to it.” It is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful places on the planet.” Its lifeboats, which are entirely enclosed, resemble submarines rather than standard emergency rafts. Thermal suits, which cover the entire body from head to toe, are worn in addition to life jackets. A stream of hot water cascades down the front of the vehicle instead of a traditional defroster.
Furthermore, the melting of Arctic sea ice means that there is a time limit for visitors to visit the region. NOAA has previously issued a warning that the region is warming twice as quickly as the rest of the world. As a result, the phrase “last-chance tourism” has been coined to describe Arctic tourism, which attempts to capture the region’s species and scenery before it vanishes forever. “Last-chance tourism has an essential psychological impact in influencing people’s decision to cruise sooner rather than later,” says Dawson of the University of Ottawa.
It is controlled by the Antarctic Treaty System,
Which dates from the Cold War era and serves as a model of international cooperation. It’s a non-profit trade organization that creates and enforces standards for the tourist industry’s day-to-day operations among its members. The governments of countries such as the United States, France, New Zealand, Argentina, and more than two dozen others argue the Antarctic Treaty’s consultative parties must act more quickly in order to effectively control tourism and protect Antarctica’s importance as a wild region.
Tourism Industry in Antarctica Is Moving Toward (Risky) Mainstream
Visits to one of the world’s most remote places are becoming increasingly popular. In the early months of the year, an ocean liner with over 1,000 crew members and over 2,100 staterooms sailed through the cold waters of the Antarctic Peninsula. When compared to the expensive expense of most Antarctic excursions, which may be as much as three times as much, cruises offered for less than $4,000 per person are a tremendous bargain.
Controlling tourism in this distant territory, where no single government has the authority to create restrictions, is a difficult task, and the job is becoming harder as Antarctica’s fame grows. During this year’s austral summer, which runs from November to March, about 40% more visitors are expected to visit Antarctica. The region’s rapid growth, which is already under strain from climate change, commercial fishing for krill and toothfish, and scientific research, could jeopardize visitors’ safety.
What does this signify in terms of the environment and visitor safety?
Temperatures in the Arctic are fast rising, opening up new shipping routes and tourist attractions in the region, which might have a significant impact on the global maritime industry. A UN climate panel projects that by 2050, sea ice will be gone for up to 125 days per summer, increasing the likelihood of commodities transportation. As a result, officials are working quickly to establish a Polar Code of Conduct to help protect the region’s unique environment.
“The bottom conclusion for us is that tourism isn’t governed by a lot of tight laws.” The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC), an observer to the Antarctic Treaty system, is a network of over 15 conservation organizations. Claire Christian, ASOC executive director, says, “It’s mostly voluntary.” Right now, there is a lot of goodwill. You can’t, however, guarantee it.
