Antarctica tourism needs tightening, says minister

Tourism management in Antarctica needs to be strengthened to protect its unique environment, Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Phil Goff says.

Tourism is to be discussed at next month's annual Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Madrid.

The Government last week adopted a policy statement on tourism and other non-governmental activities in Antarctica. It was concerned about continued development in the area as well as safety and potential jurisdictional issues, Mr Goff said.

"Antarctica is designated as a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science under the treaty system."

But Mr Goff said there were gaps in the system.

"These include differing interpretations of the Environment Protocol and the lack of means to ensure the safety and self-sufficiency of such activities."

The Government did not want to cut New Zealand tourists - about 500 a year - but advocated an overall limit, "especially when little is known about the cumulative effects of tourism on sensitive sites and Antarctic wildlife".

Tourist numbers had grown from 5000 to more than 15,000 in just over 10 years. They were expected to increase by a further 10,000 over five years.

New Zealand was particularly opposed to expansion of permanent or semi-permanent land-based tourism.

At present, most tourism is ship-based.

The Government's Antarctica policy aims to limit tourism and other non-governmental activities and ensure they are environmentally responsible by:

* Strengthening or adding to effective management through controlling tourism and other activities where necessary.

* No further promotion of more tourism in the region and limiting visits of sites that are prone to deterioration.

* Opposing expansion of permanent or semi-permanent land-based tourism, especially in the Ross Dependency.

- NZPA