Tourists have travelled on ships to the Arctic for a long time. On Svalbard, for example, paying travellers first visited this archipelago between the Norwegian mainland and the North Pole by boat in the 1890s. Today, despite its remoteness and harsh climate, the Arctic attracts more and more visitors. This is hardly surprising.

Unlike Antarctica, the Arctic is an ocean covered by an ice cap. The ice never melts completely but expands and retreats seasonally. Under this ice cap and along its edge, the Arctic is rich in wildlife such as the polar bear, walrus and narwhal. Here too indigenous people have been less influenced by the modern world, and able to guard their lifestyles and traditions more effectively.

Ship-based tourism in the Arctic traditionally has been small-scale and overall numbers have been comparatively low. However, the global cruise business has seen significant growth recently. This has meant bigger cruise ships and more destinations on itineraries In the last few years, Svalbard and Alaska, the most popular cruise destinations in the Arctic, have been visited by bigger and bigger ships. Other parts of the Arctic such as arctic Canada and Greenland are now also visited regularly by cruise ships in the summer months.

The challenges

Ship-based tourism has the potential to be one of the least-impactful ways of travel available today. What determines whether it is “good” or “bad” is the way in which it is done. The type of ship, the technical equipment and the way it is operated are one part of the environmental footprint of a cruise ship. Modern ship technology allows cruise operators to reduce pollution from emissions and waste products generated during a journey. However, large vessels still frequently make the headlines for discharging insufficiently treated waste water and other garbage in sensitive marine areas.

However, it is not only the technical side of a cruise operation that determines its impact. Cruise vessels can also visit natural areas that would otherwise be inaccessible and which are often extremely vulnerable habitats. This is especially true for the Arctic, where vegetation and wildlife have to live in extreme climatic conditions and where the few warmer months of summer are of extraordinary importance to their survival. Often negative impacts are not immediately visible, so it is the responsibility of operators, guides and visitors to conduct themselves properly on board as well as on shore.

Another important and unique aspect of cruise tourism in the Arctic is its contact with its many indigenous groups. Although the overall focus of arctic cruises still seems to be on wildlife and ‘the wilderness experience’, more and more operators incorporate visits to indigenous communities into their schedule. It is important that these visits are developed together with - and benefit - the local people.

The Arctic is also rich in cultural and historical sites. It is important that tourists show proper respect for these places and that guides and operators take good care that no artifacts are moved or taken from them.

The responsibilities of arctic tourism are addressed in “Ten Principles for Arctic Tourism”. These guidelines for tourists and operators have been developed by a multi-stakeholder group under the guidance of WWF’s International Arctic Programme.

The future?

The Arctic, as far as cruise tourism goes, is not a homogenous region. Some areas have taken part in tourism for decades, while the majority have become involved more recently. It is likely that arctic cruises will increase in the years to come.

The potential and growth in cruise tourism in the Arctic has led governments and other stakeholders, such as local communities, to look closely at the industry. The implications of this increased interest and the means by which they are implemented differ, but it seems clear that the attention for ship-based tourism will not cease and so operators will have to become increasingly involved with different interest groups if they are to operate effectively. At the same time, different legal requirements, the size of the region and the lack of a single point of contact make arctic cruise activities complex.

The Antarctic cruise industry organised itself to promote best practice with regard to its environmental impact and operational safety. The “International Association of Antarctic Cruise Operators” is the focal point of contact for matters on Antarctic cruise, and any company wishing to become a member has to adhere to the Association’s guidelines and procedures. What started out as an initiative by few concerned operators has led to a raising of the bar for almost all commercial cruise operators in Antarctica.

It’s not clear if cruise operators to the Arctic should follow the Antarctic model. However, what is clear is that cruise tourism is an economic, social and environmental factor in northern waters, and how it is done will determine the sustainability of the industry in the long run as well as influence the integrity of arctic nature and cultures.