Paradise Harbour in Antarctica chrisontour84/Shutterstock.com
India has joined forces with other nations to promote regulated tourism in Antarctica as tourist interest to the “White Continent” grows dramatically.
Discussion on regulating tourism in Antarctica will be on the agenda at the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) and a meeting of the Committee for Environmental Protection (CEP) scheduled to be held in Kochi, India from May 20-30.
“The problem is that tourism in Antarctica is not properly regulated. So this year, there is a discussion on its regulation,” said M Ravichandran, Secretary at the Ministry of Earth Sciences, which will host both conferences. He also hinted at plans to facilitate visits to Indian research stations in Antarctica for the general public.
“Very soon, we will take it up,” he said, when asked if ordinary citizens can visit Indian research stations in Antarctica.