120,000 tourists visited Antarctica. Some guides say it crossed a line
A study reveals that Antarctic tour guides are experiencing emotional distress due to the environmental impact of the booming tourism industry. As visitor numbers climb toward 450,000 annually, guides struggle with the contradiction of promoting travel to a region they see being destroyed by climate change.
Why it matters
It highlights the growing tension between the global tourism economy and the urgent need for environmental preservation in fragile ecosystems.
A new study has found that several former Antarctic tour guides decided to leave their jobs because they could no longer balance their love for the continent with the environmental impact of the tourism industry. Researchers spoke to 25 former guides who said that watching climate change up close while bringing more tourists to Antarctica made them question whether they were doing the right thing.The study, published by researchers writing for The Conversation, highlights the emotional struggle many of these guides experienced over several years. None of them quit suddenly, but they underwent a slow process of reflection as they watched the continent change and tourism continue to grow.One former guide recalled seeing huge pieces of ice breaking away from glaciers while tourists celebrated the dramatic sight. "You'd see massive glacier calvings, and you'd just want to cry. But all the guests would be cheering.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in