"We have met the enemy and he is us" (Walt Kelly, Pogo).

To protect natural resources from damage or loss is a primary 'management goal' in the polar regions (as elsewhere). Tourism in these areas creates issues when considering how to manage these activities in line with sustainable practices and responsible stewardship of the region. One must ask the questions, "What should be allowed uses and what are appropriate uses of the Antarctic natural resources?" (Snyder, as cited in Snyder and Stonehouse, 2007). 

According to Baucer (2001), opinions regarding the legitimacy of tourism in Antarctica are diverse. The Antarctic Treaty Parties acknowledge that "tourism is a natural development in this Area and it requires regulation" (Heap, 1990:2602). The Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition, an environmental organization, have called for Antarctica to be declared a "world park" which would allow tourism activity to be controlled.   

The alternative view is that just because humans are capable of travel to all parts of the world does that give us the right to travel there? (Diggins, writing for the Australian Conservation Foundation).

This philosophical question beckons a debate and my Leisure Philosophy professor, Dr. Tom Delamere would be proud of me for wanting to weigh in on this. To play the devil's advocate, maybe Antarctica should be declared a "No Go" zone for tourists. I am not alone in this position, as the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Australian Wilderness Society already "have policies that would prohibit any tourism from taking place in Antarctica" (ACF, 1990:3 as cited in Baucer, 2001).