Cruise tourism to Antarctica fell 11.5% during the 2010-11 season to 32,438 passengers.
The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators blames new regulations and expects next year's fall-off to be more than double this year's.
"The decline to date has largely been the result of the effects of the economic slowdown worldwide," Steve Wellmeier, executive director of IAATO, said in a statement. "While we expect this to continue playing a role, there is little question that the more significant factor in next year's lower numbers is the consequence of the [heavy fuel oil] ban. The result will be visitor numbers overall that mirror those of a decade ago."
With the International Maritime Organization's ban on the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil set to take effect this August, IAATO predicts that the cruise-only category of visitors will fall from 14,373 passengers on 12 ships to less than 5,000 on five ships in 2011-12.
That decline is expected to drag the total number of cruise visitors to 24,811, a 23.5% reduction from last season.
I've heard that some cruise lines have pulled out of visitng Antarctica. I would love to visit there I just think with the higher prices its being made harder and harder
Posted by: P & O Cruises | 07/26/2011 at 09:49 AM