News in this edition:

25-01. Call For Proactive Governmental Approach To NGE Issues.
25-02. Jump in Ushuaia Visitors Unlikely To Be Bettered In 2000-01.
25-03. Workshop Provides Input To N.Z. Tourism Policy Development.
25-04. Special ATCM/CEP Meeting Scheduled For September.
25-05. 'World Discoverer' Declared 'Total Loss', Replacement Planned.
25-06. COMNAP Discussions Scheduled On NGE Issues.
25-07. Further Misunderstanding Of Australian Air Transport Intentions.
25-08. New Maps Suitable For Tourist Use Published.
25-09. Presentations On Cross-Antarctic Attempt Scheduled.
25-10. Another Antarctic Marathon Scheduled For 2002.
25-11. Coming Events Relevant to Non-Government Activities.

IN READING PLEASE NOTE: This newsletter is being produced in the interest of improved information sharing in the Antarctic community. Inclusion of information in it should not be taken to imply endorsement, by the publishers of ANAN News, of any company, program or associated activity that is listed, nor that the activity has necessarily completed all environmental impact assessments required under the legislation of the 'home' nation.

Tourist operations and other non-governmental expedition (NGE) activities in the Antarctic are a legitimate use of the region provided appropriate management arrangements exist and standards set are adhered to, according to the head of the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), Dr Tony Press, in an address he made to the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) year 2000 meeting in Hobart, Australia, last week.

In making the remarks Dr Press said that in his view it is almost impossible to predict how activities in the NGE field in Antarctica will develop over the next decade and beyond. He regards significant change in this area as inevitable in the long-term and says that it may involve factors that cannot be predicted even a short time ahead. Experience in many parts of the world over more than fifty years clearly indicates the dangers of unplanned growth in tourism, and it is therefore critical that the Antarctic community work together to take a long-term, strategic approach, to the issues involved, said the AAD Director.

Dr Press went on to stress his view that there is a need for governments to take a much more proactive approach to addressing the complex, often multijurisdictional, issues involved in the NGE area. Australia, he said, intends to continue its proactive approach of recent years in that field by working with other governments, the industry, and other stakeholders in this growing sector of Antarctic endeavour. "No one part of the Antarctic community has all the knowledge and experience needed to address the issues" he said, and only if all involved work constructively together can appropriate solutions be found to the challenges he believes lie ahead.

The AAD head acknowledged the work IAATO has been undertaking in setting standards in the management of ship-based tourism, but said that he sees considerable value in having a single, strong, effective industry group which covers all type of tour operations and with which the Antarctic Treaty System and governments can interact effectively.

While acknowledging the difficulties involved for IAATO in such a move, he encouraged the Association to widen the scope of its membership to include all tour company operations in the Antarctic region, and reminded the meeting of the wide range of expertise and knowledge available in the government sector, as well as the legislative responsibilities of the nations involved.

Dr Press said that Australia was currently preparing a policy paper on Antarctic tourism and that the AAD intended to consult widely with all interested parties in the work involved.

Further reports from IAATO's Year 2000 meeting will be provided in future editions of ANAN.

[ANAN-25/05]

The number of Antarctic tourists who passed through the southern Argentinian port of Ushuaia in 1999-2000 increased by over forty per cent on the previous summer to a record 12,967 according to figures released last week by the Tourism Board of Terra Del Fuego (INFUETUR). Three-quarters of the increase resulted from the operations of three large vessels making their first visits to Antarctica, and their absence from the region in 2000-01 means that last season's record for the port is likely stand for at least several years.

Ushuaia has been the major tourism gateway to Antarctica for ship-based operations over the past decade with INFUETUR putting at over 62,000 the number of passengers who have passed through the port over the past eight years. That figure represents just over 90 per cent of all tourists who have visited the continent since late 1992.

INFUETUR data indicates that a total of seventeen Antarctic tourist vessels were involved in 120 journeys from or to Ushuaia in 1999-2000, an increase of three ships and 27 journeys over the previous year. Of the 120 journeys conducted 90 started and ended in Ushuaia with the remaining thirty either beginning or finishing in the port. Operations from Ushuaia last season ran over four and a half months with ships being present on all but a hand full of days in that time. Up to four Antarctic vessels were sometimes in the port on a single day.

The number of Antarctic tourists who passed through Ushuaia in 1998-99 was put by the Tourism Board at 9,139 (ANAN-5/02, 29 September 1999), and last season therefore saw an additional 3,800 passengers visit on the previous year. The three large vessels 'Rotterdam', Ocean Explorer I' and 'Aegean I' contributed significantly to that rise, between them carrying just over 2700 people through the port. None of the three large vessels will operate in Antarctica in 2000-01 (ANAN-19/02, 12 April 2000; ANAN-23/03, 7 June 2000), therefore there is likely to be a fall in Antarctic visitors to Ushuaia next season.

While analysis is difficult this early in the year, current information suggests that Ushuaia Antarctic visitor numbers will be in the order of 10,500 to 11,500 in 2000-01, down significantly on last season's record but continuing the general long-term upward trend. Similar analysis carried out a year ago suggested that in excess of 114 voyages would be conducted from Ushuaia in 1999-2000, with passenger numbers passing through the port being put at between 12,500 and 13,700, therefore the downwards trend indicated for next season appears realistic.

Projections recently produced by the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators are also indicating a slight fall in overall Antarctic tourist numbers over the next few years from the record 1999-2000 level (ANAN-17/01, 15 March 2000).

[ANAN-25/02]

A New Zealand (N.Z.) Government policy committee which has been asked to advise on matters related to the management of non-governmental activities in the Ross Sea region, is expected to draw on discussions of a one day open workshop held in Christchurch on 23 June in the formulation of its advice. Key emphasis during the meeting was on the potential risks, benefits and scenarios of Antarctic tourism.

The workshop, which was organised by Antarctica New Zealand (ANZ) and opened by the N.Z. Minister of Tourism, used a variety of strategies to draw out views on various aspects of tourism in Antarctica, although the main focus was on the Ross Sea region where N.Z. has a territorial claim. N.Z. officials have indicated that their prime interest in organising the workshop is not in promoting the establishment of tourist operations in the region, but to try and ensure that appropriate management safeguards exisit for what they basically see as a legitimate activity (see ANAN-25/01 proceeding).

The 75 people who took part in the meeting came from a wide cross-section of organisations, including several N.Z. and U.S. based members of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO), independent tour operators, potential operators, environmental groups, government officials from N.Z., the U.S. and Australia, and others with an interest in the region.

The day began with a discussion involving six people who debated the question 'That market forces and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) are enough to manage Antarctic tourism'. It then continued via a series of presentations on a number of key matters which were used as precursors for consideration of the issues by six smaller groups of workshop participants who were asked to consider and report back on various scenarios set by workshop organsiers.

Among those who gave presentations used to stimulate discussion were Denise Landau, Executive Secretary of IAATO, Dr Maj de Poorter of Auckland University, Erick Chiang from the U.S. National Science Foundation, N.Z. poet laureate Bill Manhire, and Peter Winder, General Manager for tourism strategy with the N.Z. Tourism Board.

Workshop proceedings are expected to be available from Antarctica New Zealand by the end of this month for around $US15 plus postage. Copies of the report can be ordered by contacting Vivienne Allan at: v.allan@antarcticanz.govt.nz

[ANAN-25/03]

A Special Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) and a meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) are scheduled to be held in The Netherlands from 11-15 September as a part replacement for the full two-week ATCM which was to have been held in Poland earlier this year.

Normally there is an agenda item at ATCMs titled 'Tourism and Non-Governmental Activities in the Antarctic Treaty Area' under which issues related directly to non-governmental expedition (NGE) matters are considered. Due to its truncated nature this year's meeting is unlikely to directly discuss matters related to NGE activity.

Other discussions scheduled are however expected to deal with issues of relevance to the NGE sphere, including environmental monitoring, emergency response and contingency planning, exchange of information, and issues related to compliance with the Madrid Protocol, including informal consultation on liability for environmental damage.

Working or Information papers related to NGEs are normally tabled at ATCMs by governments and other attendees, including summaries prepared by the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) on many of the NGE activities that have occured in the Antarctic region in the previous year. Despite the limitations of this year's meeting it is expected that IAATO will be able to table its reports in the normal way.

The small to medium scale sector of the Antarctic ship-based tour industry is likely to be well represented at The Hague meeting. IAATO has Observer status at ATCMs, while the official U.S. Delegation to the meeting usually includes a representative of that country's ship-based Antarctic tour operators. The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) which represents conservation groups interested in Antarctic issues, and which has raised concerns about some aspects of non-governmental activity in the past, also has Observer status, while like-minded representatives are usually included on Australian, New Zealand, the U.S. and some other Delegations.

The first ATCM was held in 1961 and for many years meetings were held every two years until the mid 1990s when the volume of business and the requirements of the Madrid Protocol resulted in the need for annual gatherings. These usually occured in the period around May-June each year and the year 2000 meeting would have been the 24th such gathering.

[ANAN-25/04]

Society Expeditions vessel 'World Discoverer', a twenty-year veteran of tourist voyages to the Antarctic Peninsula region, has been declared a 'total loss' as a result of damage sustained when she went ashore on an uncharted reef in the Solomon Islands last April (ANAN-21/04, 10 May 2000). Earlier indications were that the vessel would continue with her expedition cruise program in Antarctica and other parts of the world following repairs (ANAN-23/04, 7 June 2000), however a subsequent full inspection of the vessel has dashed those hopes.

According to the President of Society Expeditions, Michael Lomax, the company is to acquire a replacement for 'World Discoverer' and it will be used to conduct the company's Antarctic program in 2000-01. Society says that it has already carried out inspections of a vessel which is "currently in operation within the small-ship luxury market with a prominent cruise line". Finalisation of the purchase is reported by the company to be imminent with only relatively minor issues related to its current operations needing to be resolved.

Lomax said in a written statement that the replacement ship will be "somewhat larger" than the 138 passenger 'World Discoverer'. It is expected she will undertake the six voyages originally scheduled for her ill-fated predecessor in 2000-01. Four of these voyages involve visits to the Antarctic Peninsula and islands in the Scotia Arc, the other two being to the Peninsula only. All except one of the voyages will operate from Ushuaia, Argentina.

While declared a total loss 'World Discoverer' was actually refloated by a team using an Australia-based salvage vessel in an operation hampered and delayed by the civil war that has been underway in the Solomon Islands in recent months. The ship went aground on 29 April was not refloated until early June after five weeks aground, and it was only then that the full nature and extent of the damage suffered by her became apparent.

Reports from the Solomons indicate that on 6 June, not long after the ship was refloated, an armed militia group from one of the waring factions in the region boarded the vessel causing the evacuation of all salvage personnel and an end to immediate recovery efforts. At this time the actual where abouts and condition of 'World Discoverer' is unknown, and it is not clear what will happen to her should she eventually be recovered.

While it occured outside the Antarctic Treaty area, the loss of the 'World Discoverer' highlights the type of issues which potentially face both government and non-government ship operations in Antarctica, much of which like parts of the Solomon Islands is poorly chartered.

The Antarctic Treaty System has commenced discussion on the development of guidelines for ships operating in Antarctic waters to try and minimise the chances of serious incidents occuring at sea in the region, as well as any associated environmental damage that can often flow from such events (ANAN-19/01, 12 April 2000; and ANAN-20/01, 26 April 2000).

[ANAN-25/05]

Discussions on matters related to non-government expedition (NGE) operations in Antarctica are scheduled to occur during the Twelth annual meeting of the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP) which is to be held in Tokyo, Japan, from 10-14 July.

The prime focus for consideration of NGE issues in Tokyo is likely to be in the meeting of COMNAP's Tourism and Non-Government Activities Working Group (TANGO), although no information is available at this time about just what the scope and nature of that sub-committee's deliberations will be on this occasion. COMNAP is however to deal with national program approaches to issues in areas such as environmental management, emergency response plans, safety and incident reporting, and the operation of ships and aircraft, and aspects of those discussions can be expected to eventually be applicable to non-government operations.

During last year's COMNAP meeting in Goa, India, concern was expressed in TANGO about the need to improve inter-governmental coordination of information on, and management of, the increasing number and range of non-government activities being conducted outside the purview of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO)(ANAN-24/01, 21 June 2000). These activities include small-scale adventure tourism and very large tourist vessel operations, the latter not being eligible for IAATO membership as they carry more than 400 passengers (ANAN-1/4 of 4 August 1999).

As a result of the concerns expressed at its 1999 meeting, TANGO expanded both its terms of reference and its membership in order to try and better deal with the issues involved (ANAN-6/01, 13 October 1999).

Membership of TANGO is currently made up of: Professor Anders Karlqvist, Director of the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat (Chair); Dr Ernesto Molinari of the National Antarctic Directorate in Argentina; Professor Takeo Hirasawa, Director of the Japanese National Institute of Polar Research; John Hall, Operations Manager of the British Antarctic Survey; Dr Karl Erb, Director of United States' National Science Foundation's Office of Polar Programs; and Kim Pitt, Assistant Director Expedition Operations, at the Australian Antarctic Division.

[ANAN-25/06]

The announcement by the Australian Government on 27 June that it hopes to undertake a trial heavy aircraft flight to a naturally occuring blue ice runway in the Bunger Hills in Queen Mary Land in 2000-01 as part of development work for a possible intercontinental air transport system for its national program operations, has led to media and other speculation that tourist flights into that region will commence over the next few years. Similar misinterpretation occured following the announcement of the completion of an earlier stage of the evaluation process last September (ANAN-4/06, 15 September 1999).

An Australian Government study of air transport options between Australia and Antarctica found last year that a direct air link between the two continents is feasible and that if introduced it would significantly benefit Australia's Antarctic research program. The report which was released last week was completed following evaluation of possible landing sites in East Antarctica last season and has led to the trial flight proposal.

While the Australian Minister responsible for Antarctic activity, Senator Robert Hill, acknowledged last year that there was a potential long-term possibility that tourist operations to any air field might follow, he stressed then that the aim of the current Australian work was clearly focussed on improving transport arrangements for his country's national program support.

One expert contacted by ANAN said that in his view even if Australia does develop an air link, the potential for air based tourism in the region off Casey, Davis and Mawson stations when compared with what commercial air operator Adventure Network International (ANI) has been offering tourists for many years now, was 'negligible in the forseeable future'. ANI flys from Punta Arenas, Chile, to a summer base camp it maintains in Ellsworth Land, and from there regularly carries tourists and others to nearby regions where they can undertake a range of activities, including climbs of Antartica's highest mountain, and visits to Emporer penguin colonies, and the South Geographic Pole itself.

Even if the trial flight to the Bunger Hills can be arranged and is a success, and provided the Government continues its support for the project, it is expected to be at least several years before any air transport system capable of carrying Australian national program staff to and from Antarctica would be operational. While a flight this coming austral summer might prove that operations into the Bunger Hills is feasible, those involved point out that there is still a great deal of work to be done on the project as air access to there is only a small part of what is needed for a fully effective system.

[ANAN-25/07]

Two new general information maps suitable for use by tourists visiting Antarctica have recently been produced and will be available for use in the coming 2000-01 Antarctic season. Both have been produced in the United Kingdom, one by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) and the other privately by long-time expedition leader Nigel Sitwell through his company Ocean Explorer Publications.

The full-colour BAS production centres around a 1:3,000,000 scale map of the Antarctic Peninsula and the Weddell Sea and thus covers the region visited by over 90 per cent of current day Antarctic tourists.


In addition to the main map, which takes up two-thirds of the 1095 by 980 mm sheet, there is a small map in the margins showing the distribution of Protected Areas in the region, and another of the sea-floor topography of the Scotia arc. Insets within the Protected Area map show the Anvers Island, Danco Coast area of the Antarctic Peninsula, and the South Shetland Islands in more detail. Brief information is also provided on Antarctica and Antarctic science. The map has been printed on one side of the sheet only and is available in folded and flat formats. Enquires about the map, which sells for around $US15, can be directed via e-mail to: sales@stanfords.co.uk

Sitwell's 'Antarctic Explorer' map is also a full-colour production which features the Antarctic Peninsula, Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and Tierra del Feugo at a scale of 1:7,000,000.

Accompanying the Peninsula region map are more detailed general maps of the area around Anvers Island and the Danco Coast, and of South Georgia (Isla Georgia del Sur), together with brief notes and pictures on the history and biology of the region and a short summary of the Antarctic Treaty. The production is printed on both sides and the reverse contains a 1:12,500,000 scale map of the whole continent surrounded by pictures and short details of thirty Antarctic explorers ranging from Cook, Bransfield and Palmer, to Wilkins, Fuchs and Hillary. It also has a small insert map of the Ross Island region.

When unfolded the 'Antarctic Explorer' sheet measures 1000 by 690 mm and thus is slightly smaller than the BAS production. It is expected to sell wholesale for around $US5 including delivery costs, the minimum order being 200 copies. Enquiries about the map can be directed to: info@oceanexplorer.net

In addition to the maps two new books suitable for tourists will be available prior to the 2000-01 season. Dr Bernard Stonehouse's latest publication "The Last Continent - Discovering Antarctica" has recently been published and contains information on many tourist landing sites all around Antarctica (ANAN-19/11, 12 April 2000). The second edition of the Lonely Planet company's popular "Antarctica: A Travel Survival Kit" book is due to be published in September (ANAN-13/03, 19 January 2000).

[ANAN-25/08]

Peter Treseder, who with Tim Jarvis, attempted to man haul unsupported across Antarctica last austral summer, is to give a series of presentations about the journey in Australia later this year. The pair were forced to abandon their trek on 19 December fifty days into the journey and three days after passing the South Geographic Pole when a fuel container split contaminating a significant amount of their food (ANAN-11/01, 22 December 1999). Dates and city location for the talks plus contact information for those wishing to attend are provided in ANAN-25/11.

[ANAN-25/09]

Marathon Tours, which has arranged three previous Marathon and Half Marathon events on King George Island in the South Shetlands, and which is planning a fourth next February (ANAN-18/03, 29 March 2000), is currently advertising another for early in 2002. Marathon's races, which are supported operationally by vessels operated by Marine Expeditions of Canada, have previously been run bi-annually however with next February's events fully booked the company decided to operate again the following year.

According to Marathon's web site the course for the races will start and finish at the Uruguayan station Artigas and pass through Russian (Bellinghausen), Chilean (Presedentie Eduardo Frei), and Chinese (Great Wall) facilities.

About 600 m from the start the runners commence a two kilometre ascent of the Collins Glacier before descending along a glacial stream which runs toward Seal Cove. The next five kilometres cut across the landscape to the ten kilometre point and from there the run is along a dirt road for the rest of the loop. Parts of the road are reported to have been "very muddy" in a previous event.

Marathon has indicated previously that staff from the stations operate way points on the courses, provide water, medical assistance and 'supportive cheers' to participants, while some also participate in the events.

[ANAN-25/10]

10-14 July 2000 (Tokyo, Japan)
COMNAP (including the sub-committee on Tourism and Non-Government Operations).
Contact: jsayers@comnap.aq (Jack Sayers)

11-15 September 2000 (The Hague, Netherlands)
Special Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting.
Meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection.

4-6 October 2000 (Boulder, United States)
American Polar Society Bi-Annual Meeting.
Contact: mckie@cires.colarado.edu (Julie McKie)

1 November 2000 (Melbourne, Australia)
3 November 2000 (Hobart, Australia)
7 November 2000 (Adelaide, Australia)
14 November 2000 (Perth, Australia)
Presentations by Peter Treseder on his 1999-2000 cross-Antarctica attempt.
Contact: jodyh@yhansw.org.au (Jody Hoffman)

5 February 2001 (King George Island, Antarctica)
Fourth Antarctic Marathon and Half Marathon.
Contact: marathon@shore.net (Thom Gilligan)

July 2001 [Dates to be set] (Washington, D.C., United States).
IAATO year 2001 annual meeting.
Contact: iaato@iaato.org (Denise Landau).

February 2002 [Date to be set](King George Island, Antarctica)
Fifth Antarctic Marathon and Half Marathon.
Contact: marathon@shore.net (Thom Gilligan)

July 2002 [Dates/location to be set] (Europe).
IAATO year 2002 annual meeting.
Contact: iaato@iaato.org (Denise Landau).

July 2003 [Dates to be set] (Seattle, United States).
IAATO year 2003 annual meeting.
Contact: iaato@iaato.org (Denise Landau).

[ANAN-25/11]

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