Marisol Vereda – författare

Prior to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the Arctic and Antarctic regions were experiencing significant growth in tourist arrivals. In the aftermath of this global crisis, the tourism industry has rebounded and the number of tourists visiting the polar regions is expected to keep growing significantly in the coming years. Remote regions are increasingly accessible as tourism actors develop technologies, diversify activities and itineraries, and climate change worsens. In the Arctic, tourism now takes place year-round through various modalities, ranging from exclusive icebreaker expeditions to the North Pole to mass tourism practices in several destinations such as Rovaniemi, Reykjavik, Longyearbyen or Skagway, wherein tourism not only brings opportunities, but also new challenges to local communities. Meanwhile, gateway cities to Antarctica such as Ushuaia and its inhabitants are set to recover from the severe adverse effects due to the virtual standstill of tourism in the region. This book fills the gap in literature on polar tourism and communities. Through several examples encompassing the Arctic and Antarctica, various chapters examine how both the tourism industry and various communities impact and influence each other from economic, sociocultural, political and environmental perspectives. The contents provide a general perspective regarding polar tourism and chapters focusing on challenges and/or experiences of the communities that are related to tourism in the polar regions and delivers: · Exploration of the complex interactions between polar tourism and local communities · Coverage of a broad range of topics including safety, environmental care, increase in the number of visitors, and the pursuit of new experiences at the farthest extremes of the world. Overall, this book provides a unique and timely analysis of the complex interactions between polar tourism and local communities and could be of interest to advanced-level students and researchers in tourism studies and polar geographies.

This book discusses the expansion of new activities carried out in Antarctica and the focus among treaty parties on the perceived challenges posed by adventure tourism in the region. Shedding light on the latest trends and the modus operandi of all parties involved, it draws attention to new elements in the debate on how tourism and environmental protection can best be reconciled, with tourism in Antarctica rapidly increasing in recent decades. As far as technical practice and visitor guidance are concerned, the challenge facing tour operators lies in determining whether tourism has a negative or positive impact on the environment. The individual chapters address the development of polar tourism in terms of numbers, types and activities. The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, which advocates and promotes the practice of safe and environmentally responsible travel to the Antarctic, is also part of this study. In this context, special attentionis paid to its strategies relating to adventure tourism – including both deep-field activities and those additional or new activities launched from traditional ship or yacht-based platforms. The analysis includes aspects of risk management and environmental considerations, as well as views on the cultural perspectives of Antarctica.