Although the number of visitors remains relatively small—partly due to the associated high costs and travel time—they are increasing so swiftly that scientists and environmentalists are raising alarms.
A rare hantavirus outbreak on a Dutch ship during a weeks-long polar cruise has highlighted this growing trend in tourism.
Most expeditions target the Antarctic Peninsula, known as one of the fastest-warming areas globally. Between 2002 and 2020, approximately 149 billion metric tons (164 billion tons) of Antarctic ice melted annually, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
A typical route involves sailing south from Argentina to Antarctica, then north along the African coast—similar to the journey undertaken by the cruise ship MV Hondius.
“The locations you encounter in Antarctica are absolutely unique and can’t be found anywhere else on Earth—the whales, seals, penguins, icebergs—it’s all breathtaking and leaves a lasting impression on visitors,” stated Claire Christian, executive director of the environmental organization Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition.
In 2024, over 80,000 tourists landed on the extensive ice-covered continent, while an additional 36,000 experienced it from the safety of their ships, according to data from the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators.
The International Union of Concerned Scientists estimates tourism in Antarctica has increased tenfold over the last 30 years.
This number may escalate further in the coming decade as costs decrease with the introduction of more ice-capable vessels and technological improvements, said Hanne Nielsen, senior lecturer in Antarctic law at the University of Tasmania. Her colleagues at the university project annual visitor numbers could triple or quadruple, exceeding 400,000 visits within that timeframe.
Some tourists are drawn to Antarctica for what they call “last chance tourism,” fully aware that the melting landscapes are undergoing rapid transformations, Nielsen explained.
Officials have not reported any signs of contamination from the MV Hondius.
However, in recent years, flocks of migratory birds have brought avian flu from South America to Antarctic regions, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This outbreak has led the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators and others to implement stricter regulations regarding tourists’ behavior and hygiene to safeguard against contamination. To protect the delicate ecosystem from invasive species, both large and microscopic, visitors are advised to maintain distance from wildlife and ensure that their feet are the only points of contact with the ground.
“Visitors must adhere to specific guidelines when traveling south,” Nielsen noted, sharing insights from her five previous voyages as a guide. Teams onboard use vacuums, disinfectants, and brushes to clean shoes and equipment of bugs, feathers, seeds, and soil that could carry microbes.
“You’d be surprised what you might find between the tongues and laces of boots,” she remarked.
Cruise ships have experienced outbreaks of illnesses like norovirus, which can spread rapidly in close quarters. In 2020, a COVID-19 outbreak on the Diamond Princess transformed the vessel into a hotspot for the then-unknown virus.
Hantavirus typically spreads through inhalation of airborne particles from contaminated rodent droppings.
On Tuesday, the World Health Organization stated that the MV Hondius departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1, visiting Antarctica and several remote islands.
WHO is currently investigating potential human-to-human transmission onboard the cruise ship, according to Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness. Officials believe the initial infected individual likely contracted the virus before boarding and have received confirmation that no rats are onboard.
Antarctica is governed by the Antarctic Treaty, established in 1959 to designate the territory as a scientific preserve solely for peaceful purposes. A series of subsequent regulations aim to ensure that visits, irrespective of their location, do not negatively impact the Antarctic environment or its scientific and aesthetic significance, as outlined by the treaty’s secretariat.
Companies and research endeavors voluntarily comply with biosecurity protocols and submit environmental impact assessments for their Antarctic activities.
The treaty was formulated when tourism numbers were significantly lower, Christian noted.
“Activities need to be properly regulated, much like any sensitive and precious ecological sites around the globe,” Christian stated from Hiroshima, Japan, where she is preparing for an Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting. She will join discussions aimed at enhancing protections for Antarctica’s penguins, whales, seabirds, seals, and krill—tiny creatures foundational to the food web.
For the time being, the allure of this frozen frontier continues to attract visitors.
“You can leave a footprint in Antarctica, and it will still be there 50 years later,” Christian remarked.
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