Management of tourism in Antarctica has been the combined responsibility of Antarctic Treaty Parties and the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) since 1991 when IAATO was formed. With the growth of tourism during the past 15–20 years, management strategies developed by IAATO included establishing categories of membership that are tailored to accommodate size of vessels and passenger capacity, plus a variety of steps taken to ensure environmental protection. These are mentioned in detail in the following sections. Benefits of Antarctic tourism are many, such as spin-offs that assist science programs through "ships of opportunity" by way of transporting science personnel and gear, as well as in numerous observations of marine wildlife by tour company naturalists.

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This chapter discusses the unique touristic experiences of Antarctica in the context of a place that nobody owns, but which can be visited and enjoyed by anyone. An overview is presented of the visitor numbers in Antarctica and the sustainability of Antarctic tourism.

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