'They don't deserve this beauty and this breathtaking fragility': Former Antarctic tour guides told researchers why they quit the troubling industry
Polar tourism researchers Zdenka Sokolickova and Liz Cooper talk about why a number of Antarctic tour guides have given up what they still consider to be their dream job.
The allure of Antarctica, one of the most remote places on Earth, draws over 100,000 visitors annually, with numbers potentially reaching 450,000 in the near future. However, this growing industry comes with a significant carbon footprint and poses risks to the fragile ecosystem. A study published in the journal Annals of Tourism Research reveals the experiences of 25 former guides who witnessed the impacts of their work firsthand.
The researchers, social anthropologist Zdenka Sokolickova and polar tourism researcher Liz Cooper from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, interviewed 14 male and 11 female guides to understand their perspectives and motivations for leaving the industry. The guides highlighted the emotional toll of their jobs and specific events that prompted their departure, such as the cruise ship breaking sea ice and the endangerment of penguins.
The study emphasizes the unique challenges and risks associated with Antarctic tourism, making it an unsustainable and potentially harmful form of travel.
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