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Image Antarctica One of the most perfectly preserved regions on the planet IAATO is a member organisation founded in 1991 to advocate and promote the practice of safe and environmentally responsible private-sector travel to the Antarctic. Visiting Antarctica Video file Image Image Image Image Watch to find out about the actions you should take to make your visit safe and environmentally responsible Find out more Image Your Questions, Answered. Visit our FAQs Page Contact Us IAATO's Membership How can I find out if a tour operator is a member of IAATO? Our Membership Directory has full details of all our current members. Not all companies that take visitors to Antarctica are IAATO members, however the vast majority are. Tourism in the Antarctic How does tourism benefit the Antarctic? Through the unique global partnership that is the Antarctic Treaty system, the entire continent is formally designated as a 'natural reserve, devoted to peace and science'. Antarctica is regarded as the last great wilderness on our planet, still pristine with wildlife and landscapes that show little evidence of direct human activity. To visit, and operate in, an environment like this comes with a responsibility to do so carefully and with minimal impact. IAATO has demonstrated through its work that environmentally responsible tourism is possible in remote and fragile wilderness areas. More than this, tourism is and should continue to be a driving force in Antarctic conservation. First-hand travel experiences foster a better understanding of a destination where no indigenous population exists to speak for itself. Visitors — representing more than 100 different nationalities on average per season — return home as ambassadors of goodwill, guardianship and peace. IAATO's focus on protection, management and education promotes a greater worldwide understanding and protection of the Antarctic with the goal of leaving it as pristine and majestic for future generations as it is today. What is the Antarctic Treaty? The Antarctic Treaty was signed on 1 December 1959 at Washington, D.C. and entered into force on 23 June 1961. It designated the entire continent as “a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science”, creating an unprecedented global partnership that now includes nearly 50 countries. Read more about the Antarctic Treaty. How many ships visit Antarctica each year? The number of ships varies from year to year. To facilitate the responsible management of human activity in Antarctica by Treaty Parties, IAATO annually submits Information Papers to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM), which IAATO attends as an Invited Expert. They include a tourism overview paper which:Details the scope of Antarctic tourism that took place during the past seasonProvides an estimate for what is being planned for the upcoming seasonYou can find all of IAATO's information papers here. Alternatively, our Data & Statistics section provides summary information on the scope of Antarctic tourism. If you need any additional information, please contact us directly. Image Become a Member Read more about our membership process and the documents you will need to submit Find out More Already a member? Latest Articles Jørn Henriksen Appointed Chair of IAATO Executive Committee Amid New Leadership Additions Categories News Featured Early-Career Professionals Invited to Apply for $15,000 USD Antarctic Research Awards Categories Antarctic Fellowship Featured News IAATO Expands Wildlife Monitoring Program Through Global Marine Conservation Partnership Categories News Featured Wildlife Antarctic Fellowship Recipients Announced Categories News Featured Antarctic Fellowship Previous Next Join the conversation

Antarctica | IAATO