Tourism in Antarctica and the Arctic is growing rapidly, but at what cost?
Antarctica and the Arctic are changing. Rising temperatures are reshaping polar landscapes, ecosystems and global climate systems, while retreating ice is making these regions more accessible than ever before.
In the 2023–24 season alone, more than 125,000 tourists travelled south to Antarctica, with numbers expected to continue rising as cruise tourism expands. As human presence grows, urgent questions emerge about limits, regulation and responsibility in some of the world’s most fragile environments. Can tourism ever sit comfortably alongside conservation, science and global responsibility?
Join Associate Professor Julia Olsen and Doctor Hanne Nielsen for an Island of Ideas conversation, facilitated by Professor Elizabeth Leane, that explores polar tourism across both the Arctic and Antarctic to discover what the future may hold for these extraordinary places.
Tickets are free but essential, register now to avoid missing out.
Presenters:
- Associate Professor Julia Olsen, Nord University, Bodø, Norway
- Doctor Hanne Nielsen, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania
- Professor Elizabeth Leane, Professor of Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania