Captain Scott anniversary boosts Antarctica tourism
24th April 2012
Despite the recent drop in tourism to the icy continent, Antarctica is re-gaining its popularity following the 100th anniversary of Captain Scott's expedition
For the 2012/13 season, the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) is predicting a 10% rise in visitors to the icy continent. The increase in interest has been attributed to BBC TV series Frozen Planet and a recent spate of exhibitions celebrating the 100th anniversary of Captain Scott's fateful journey to the South Pole raising awareness of the destination.
This bucket-list destination has always been popular, welcoming just under 50,000 travellers in 2007-8. However, in recent years, there has been a downward trend in visitors – last year, only 25,320 people headed south.
“(It's) all rather different to Captain Scott's day. This is the centenary of his ill-fated expedition to the White Continent, and thanks to the events and exhibitions related to the anniversary, interest in the Antarctica is stronger than ever,” Wanderlust's editor-in-chief Lyn Hughes said.
The Scott exhibition at London's Natural History Museum has already attracted 50,000 people. On display at the exhibition is a rare collection of artefacts used by the team, a life-sized representation of Scott's hut and some scientific specimens, including an emperor penguin egg collected in 1911. It is open from now until September 2012.
For more information on Antarctica don't miss the next issue of Wanderlust travel magazine – available to buy from Thursday 26 April.
The May/June issue includes a 14-page Antarctic special with all the information, advice and inspiration you need to book a trip down south.
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