Exploring the final frontiers: Cruise tourism in polar regions.

Abstract

CRUISE ship tourism is expanding rapidly in both the Arctic and Antarctic, with increased numbers and types of vessels, more demanding routes, and yearround activity as the final frontiers are opened to all types of visitors. The increase in access and in cruise activities, risks of accidents and negative impacts, and the effects of the large numbers of tourists in the polar regions bring significant management challenges for sustainable use of polar regions. In this timely context, Lück, Maher and Stewart have collected a range of discussions and viewpoints of the environmental and social sustainability issues concerning the cruise industry in polar regions.