Antarctica is attracting more tourists as remote trips become easier to book and wealthy travellers seek unusual experiences. Companies have added ships to meet demand. However, some experienced guides say the workforce has not kept pace with this expansion.
Around 8,000 tourists visited Antarctica in the early 1990s, compared with about 122,000 in the 2023–24 season. These figures come from the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, or IAATO. If visitor numbers continue growing at the same rate, one forecast suggests they could exceed 450,000 in the 2033–34 season — nearly four times the 2023–24 total.
Travel companies are also expanding their fleets, the groups of ships they operate. In 2019, Lindblad Expeditions had two polar ships and another two under construction; both new ships have since entered service. Viking currently has two expedition ships suitable for polar travel and has ordered two more. Many of the ships were ordered before the Covid-19 pandemic.
