May 10th, 2013 at 8:00AM: Earlier this week, the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) concluded their 24th annual meeting in Punta Arenas, Chile. Topics at the gathering included strategic planning for sustainable tourism in the Antarctic, methods of safe travel that can help protect the fragile ecosystem there and ways of enticing more travel companies to join the Association. During the ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
IAATO posts
Antarctica Saw More Visitors In 2012
May 10th, 2013 at 8:00AM: Earlier this week, the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) concluded their 24th annual meeting in Punta Arenas, Chile. Topics at the gathering included strategic planning for sustainable tourism in the Antarctic, methods of safe travel that can help protect the fragile ecosystem there and ways of enticing more travel companies to join the Association. During the ...British Naval Vessel Rescues Antarctic Cruise Ship
Jan 23rd, 2013 at 8:00AM: A ship in the British navy came to the aid of a stranded cruise ship in the Antarctic last week, helping to clear a path through the ice that had entrapped the civilian vessel. While no one was injured and the entire operation took just a few hours to complete, the incident underscores the challenges of traveling in the Southern Ocean, even in the 21st century.
The ice-breaking vessel HMS ...Antarctic Tourism Expected To Increase In 2012-2013
Jun 15th, 2012 at 8:00AM: The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) is predicting an increase in Antarctic tourism this year as adventurous travelers begin to return to the frozen continent in larger numbers. If that prediction holds true it will be the first time in four years that Antarctica will see an increase in visitors, which is good news for travel companies that operate in the region but ...Antarctic tourism drops in 2010
Jun 15th, 2011 at 8:00AM: The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) announced yesterday that the number of travelers visiting Antarctica actually dropped during the 2010-2011 tourism season – a trend that they expect to continue into the 2011-2012 season as well.
During the 2010-2011 Antarctic season, the total number of travelers on IAATO member-operated vessels was listed as 33,824, which ...IAATO comments on missing Antarctic yacht
Mar 3rd, 2011 at 8:00AM: The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) has released a statement regarding the Berserk, a Norwegian yacht that went missing in the Antarctic last week. While calling the incident "tragic," the statement reiterates that the ship was not part of the organization, and was operating without regard to important safety guidelines.
The IAATO is a member-based organization ...IAATO explains climate change for Antarctic travelers
Nov 10th, 2010 at 8:30AM: The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) continues to be a great source of information and education for travelers heading south to the frozen continent. Last week we told you about their efforts to keep the sailors aboard private yachts, well informed of the issues involved with navigating the Antarctic waters, helping to make the region even safer for travel. But beyond ...Antarctic tour operators offer tips for independent sailors
Nov 4th, 2010 at 8:30AM: The Antarctic tourism season is just getting underway and travelers the world over are preparing to make the journey to the bottom of the planet where they'll be treated to one of the most remote and untouched destinations on Earth. The vast majority of those travelers will book their visit with a travel company and will end up cruising the Southern Ocean aboard a ship that is specially designed ...Antarctic tour operators recommend further safety measures
Oct 14th, 2009 at 8:30AM: Just a few short weeks before the Antarctic cruise season gets underway, the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) has recommended further safety measures in the wake of several high profile accidents in the region over the past few years. The IAATO is a completely voluntary organization, made up of companies that operate cruises in the Southern Ocean. In recent months it ...Antarctic Tourism Down
Feb 13th, 2009 at 8:30AM: The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators or IAATO is reporting that the number of tourists visiting Antarctica dropped dramatically in 2008 according to a report from Outside Online. According to the preliminary numbers from 2008, 36,000 people visited the frozen continent, that's down from the record high of 46,000 the year before. The reason for the sharp drop? Like all things ...
