Antarctica is becoming a hot tourist destination.

Greg and Susana McCurdy, a married couple, took this photo in Antarctica during their summer vacation in 2024.

250 passengers on board rushed to the balconies and leaned over the sides of the ship to see what was happening. But this wasn't a chaotic scramble for lifeboats like on the Titanic. Instead, passengers began descending the stairs, walking on the ice.

The collision wasn't an accident, but rather one of the pre-planned experiences. To make it even more perfect, the ship's crew had set up a table laden with champagne glasses to celebrate the passengers' arrival in Antarctica.

Among the passengers strolling on the ice floe were Greg and Susana McCurdy, two retired police officers from Las Vegas, USA. Susana currently works part-time in the tourism industry, while Greg dedicates his full free time to exploring the world's most unusual places.

After raising their champagne glasses, the McCurdys held up a small sign that read "The 7th Continent - Antarctica 2024" and posed for photos. With this trip, they officially joined the ranks of travelers who have visited every continent in the world. This group of travelers is not large, but it is growing.

Susana has noticed a change in the behavior of her recent tour clients. They want to explore more authentic experiences on their trips, have more goals, especially after the pandemic. They don't want to postpone their trips, and Antarctica is almost at the top of the list of places Susana's clients want to visit.

According to the International Association of Antarctic Travel Agents (IAATO), the number of visitors to Antarctica has increased significantly since the pandemic. In the winter of 2017, only about 7,000 visitors came to Antarctica. This year, that number has exceeded 43,000, an increase of more than 500%.

A few decades ago, Antarctic tourism wasn't the luxury it is today. Visitors had to travel on smaller ships, many arriving on old icebreakers from Russia, Canada, and other polar nations.

Seabourn Pursuit uses its bow to cut ice in Antarctica.

Robin West, CEO of Seabourn Expeditions, made the first trip to the area in 2002. Many boats at that time were equipped with bunk beds and shared bathrooms. Very few boats had windows to look out onto the water, a stark contrast to the experience today.

Colleen McDaniel, head of the US-based cruise review website Cruise Critic, says that cruise lines like Ponant, Silversea, Seabourn, and Scenic have recently made significant strides in offering luxury experiences to travelers to the Arctic. They provide opulent suites on board, fine dining, and even spas.

Cruise lines are investing billions of dollars in Antarctic exploration vessels.
Both the Seabourn Pursuit and Venture ships boast luxurious spas, nine restaurants, eight lounges, and bars for approximately 250 passengers on board. Each of the 132 cabins features large glass windows and balconies, allowing guests to easily stand outside as majestic icebergs drift by.

If you wish to go submarine or explore the Antarctic waters by kayak, you will need to pay an additional fee. Passengers are provided with specially designed cold-weather clothing that keeps them warm and dry while wandering among penguins and seals.

Celebrity, Norwegian, and Princess cruise lines now offer a new sightseeing tour called "sightseeing only," allowing passengers to view Antarctica without actually setting foot on the tundra (they simply observe from the ship).

The surge in tourism has prompted many experts to raise concerns about its environmental impact. A 2022 study in the journal Nature indicated that snow in Antarctica is melting faster due to the increasing number of tourists visiting the continent. Soot escaping from the smokestacks of tourist ships settles on the ice, attracting sunlight and causing tons of snow to melt prematurely. Ecologists say the growing human presence in Antarctica is causing a dramatic increase in carbon dioxide levels.

Cruise ship operators say they are acutely aware of the impact they have on the environment. Therefore, passengers are always given detailed instructions not to bring any outside food or other contaminants to Antarctica. Passengers are also instructed not to lie on the snow and to maintain distance from wildlife to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses.

Wildlife is a major attraction on Antarctic excursions.

Countries involved in research and tourism in Antarctica have signed the Antarctic Treaty, which stipulates that no permanent structures for tourism purposes may be built in the area.

In other words, there are no hotels in Antarctica. Recently, IAATO has begun monitoring the fuel consumption of cruise ships in the Antarctic region, and some operators are now using electric propulsion systems whenever possible in an effort to cut emissions, soot, and CO2.

TH (according to VnExpress)

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/nam-cuc-dang-tro-thanh-diem-nong-du-lich-396854.html