s due to extreme cold is anathema to the pleasure cruise mentality, hence tourism in Antarctica is primarily expedition and educational cruises which were pioneered by Lars Lindbland in 1966 with the emphasis on educating the passengers through expert lecturers (cited in Luyendyk, 1995, p. 1).Ecotourism is a growth industry throughout the Antarctic region. During the 1991-1992 summer season 6200 tourists visited Antarctica compared with fewer than 2000 a decade earlier, records indicate the current tourist focus is on ecotourism, whale watching, visiting scientific research stations and historical huts. (Carvallo, 1994, pp. 76-79).Legislation Pertaining to AntarcticaAustralian law lists offences and prescribes penalties for many activities which may be harmful to the Antarctic environment. It also sets out obligations such as those to plan appropriately with environmental impacts in mind, and to fully assess activities which may cause disturbance to plants and animals (Antarctic Treaty, summary, appendix 2).In order to facilitate the pursuit of research in the Antarctic, and to ensure that it remained open to all nations to conduct scientific or peaceful activities there, the governments of the 12 nations who were [then] active in the Antarctic signed the Antarctic Treaty in Washington on 1 December 1959. It has since been acceded to by many other nations (Summary of the Antarctic Treaty, 1959, Appendix 2).Australia's major international obligations in relation to the Antarctic environment are adopted in the following legislation:Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980 Antarctic Seals Conservation Regulations;Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) (Environmental Impact assessment) Regulations; Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) (Waste Management) Regulations; Australian Antarctic Marine Living Resources Conservation Regulations. Antarctic Marine Living Resources Conservation Act1981; ...
