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Antarctica was once a distant, almost mythical destination at the end of the world.
Now, more people than ever – not just lone explorers and adventurers – can experience the towering icebergs, penguin colonies and breathtaking fiords for themselves.
Fewer than 8,000 people went to Antarctica in the mid-1990s. A decade later, that number rose to 20,000. By 2024, the continent saw almost 123,000 visitors. Many of them are social media influencers or have been influenced by platforms such as TikTok.
“Of course, you can’t compare the numbers with those in Venice, Barcelona or Phi Phi Island,” says Anne Hardy, a tourism professor at the University of Tasmania in Australia. “But what we are experiencing in Antarctica is increasing diversification, moving away from niche tourism.”
Most of the tours currently on offer are expedition ships with space for up to 500 passengers, though the market is growing for ships with up to 1,000 people on board, says Hardy.