Cruise Tourism in Polar Regions

Cruises are the primary form of tourism in the Polar Regions and cruise ship tourism in both the Arctic and Antarctic is expanding rapidly. The industry has moved beyond its infancy, and is now entering a maturing phase with increased numbers and types of vessels, more demanding routes, and more regular and predictable patterns of activity. The increase in cruise activities, and the associated risks of accidents, as well as the potential and actual impacts of the large numbers of tourists in the polar regions bring with it management challenges for sustainable use of these regions.

This book discusses critically the issues around environmental and social sustainability of the cruise industry in Polar Regions. Authors from Canada, USA, Europe, Australia and New Zealand are experts in their respective fields and take an innovative, critical and at times controversial approach to the subject.

Michael Luck is an Associate Professor and Head of Department (Tourism & Events) in the School of Hospitality and Tourism, and Associate Director for the coastal and marine tourism research program area at the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute, both at AUT University in Auckland, New Zealand.

Patrick T. Maher is an Associate Professor in the Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Management Program at the University of Northern British Columbia, Canada.

Emma J. Stewart is a Senior Lecturer in Tourism and Parks at Lincoln University, NZ and is a Research Associate at the Arctic Institute of North America (AINA).