Footsteps on the Ice: visitor experiences in the Ross Sea Region, Antarctica

Abstract

Antarctica is one of the most beautiful and remote places on the planet. The moniker of being the highest, driest, coldest, iciest, windiest, most remote continent, surrounded by the stormiest ocean is well deserved, yet it also acts as quite a draw for visitors. Despite the fact that visitor numbers have been steadily rising for the past 15 years, very little is empirically known about the experience these visitors have, particularly outside of the Antarctic Peninsula region. This lack of understanding is particularly detrimental from the perspective of visitor management, as is being discovered by agencies worldwide. As such, the aim of this thesis is to report on a study of visitor experiences in the Ross Sea region of Antarctica. Visitors are defined as those who come into physical contact with the continent, and whose primary activity and purpose is simply "being there." Visitors are a wider population than just commercial tourists aboard cruise ships; visitors are not passengers on commercial overflights, the scientists or base and support staff. Experience is defined as a longitudinal period—looking at visitors well in advance of their visit, throughout their time on site, and following up back at their homes. The Ross Sea region is essentially equivalent to New Zealand's Ross Dependency, a section of the Antarctic "pie" from the South Pole to 60°S, bounded by approximately 150°E and 150°W. Using a three-phase methodology to examine the cycle of experience, the purpose of this study is to compare groups of visitors with four organisations through this cycle, and analyse for change or transition as a result of their visit. The visitors were participants, to varying degrees, in a number of data-gathering methods during the 2002–2003 or 2003–2004 seasons. Such methods included: self-administered surveys sent to the respondents' home (up to three months in advance of the trip); personal narratives and journals while on the trip (regardless of trip length; 4–28 days); in-depth interviews held in Christchurch directly before and after the trip when possible; and email surveys (two to three months following the visit). In 2003–2004, a supplemental season of data was collected that included a researcher familiarisation visit, participant observation, and informal interviews at Scott Base. These supplemental data helped shape the researcher's own thoughts and thus comments in the Discussion sections. Results indicate both similarities and differences as compared to previous research; key findings include: scenery was a strong motivator and component of image; expectations were for a safe and professional learning; mood was positive throughout all phases; visitation was both acceptable and problematic; the environment was important, even in advance of the visit; education was an essential benefit of the visit; the Ross Sea region was an impressive and awe-inspiring locale; organisational differences were apparent when discussing people and the role of transportation to the continent; historic huts were uniformly amazing sites for the feelings they instil; expectations were virtually always exceeded; awareness changed over the experience; sharing of awareness and teaching from one's learning had occurred; action may or may not have occurred on various specific issues, but the label of ambassador was respondent-perceived to be acceptable. This study concludes with a number of implications for theory, methods, and logistics, which will hopefully lead to future research that is much wider in scope (geographically), but equally inclusive in terms of methods and ability to utilize and critique theories built outside of purely tourism research.