The development of tourism at Faraday/Vernadsky station: changes in governance and visitor patterns

Abstract

This study examines the change in visitor pattern since 1968 at the Ukrainian Vernadsky station (formerly the British Faraday station), one of the most popular Antarctic research stations that support non-governmental visits. The station became one of the major tourist destinations as a result of the revision of tourism policy following the transfer of the station from the UK to Ukraine in 1996. Since then a considerable increase in the number of both cruise ships and yacht visits have been observed. The longest time series of data on non-governmental activity at a research station in Antarctica has been collected from 1968 to 2010. This study examines site-specific guidelines at the station and indicates policies for better visitor management within the Antarctic Treaty System.