Antarctica is often referred to as one of the last wildernesses on earth. Despite its remoteness, more and more tourists are finding their way to the far South. So, what are these tourists doing there? What attracts them? How are tourist activities regulated? These and other questions will be touched upon in this week’s lecture.

Annette Scheepstra works as a Coordinator of External Affairs and researcher at the Arctic Centre at the University of Groningen. She also has ample experience as an expedition guide in the high North.

In her lecture, she will start with a general overview of tourism in the Antarctic followed by a focus on the possible impacts a visit to the Antarctic has on tourists. Since August 2023, Annette has been leading a large research project called GUIDE-BEST. This project aims to better understand the drivers that affect the behaviour of tourist during and after a visit to Antarctica and the likelihood that they become so-called “Antarctic Ambassadors”. While the project is still in its initial phase, the lecture will offer you some insights in the world of Antarctic tourism and the concept of Antarctic Ambassadorship according to the findings so far.