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The only dwelling here is a modest five-bedroom home, previously the guesthouse to a convent which was part of a long-destroyed monastery complex. The recorded population? Just 11 souls.
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The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
Why Antarctica's tourism boom could spell disaster
The number of tourists heading to Antarctica has been skyrocketing. From fewer than 8,000 a year about three decades ago, nearly 125,000 tourists flocked to the icy continent in 2023–24. The trend is likely to continue in the long term. Unchecked tourism growth in Antarctica risks undermining the very environment that draws visitors. This would be bad for operators and tourists. It would also be bad for Antarctica – and the planet. Over the past two weeks, the nations that decide what human activities are permitted in Antarctica have convened in Italy. The meeting incorporates discussions by a special working group that aims to address tourism issues. It's not easy to manage tourist visitors to a continent beyond any one country's control. So, how do we stop Antarctica being loved to death? The answer may lie in economics. Future visitor trends We recently modelled future visitor trends in Antarctica. A conservative scenario shows by 2033–34, visitor numbers could reach around 285,000. Under the least conservative scenario, numbers could reach 450,000 – however, this figure incorporates pent-up demand from Covid shutdowns that will likely diminish. The vast majority of the Antarctic tourism industry comprises cruise-ship tourism in the Antarctic Peninsula. A small percentage of visitors travel to the Ross Sea region and parts of the continent's interior. Antarctic tourism is managed by an international set of agreements together known as the Antarctic Treaty System, as well as the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO). The Treaty System is notoriously slow-moving and riven by geopolitics, and IAATO does not have the power to cap visitor numbers. Pressure on a fragile continent About two-thirds of Antarctic tourists land on the continent. The visitors can threaten fragile ecosystems by: compacting soils trampling fragile vegetation introducing non-native microbes and plant species disturbing breeding colonies of birds and seals. Even when cruise ships don't dock, they can cause problems such as air, water and noise pollution – as well as anchoring that can damage the seabed. Then there's carbon emissions. Each cruise ship traveller to Antarctica typically produces between 3.2 and 4.1 tonnes of carbon, not including travel to the port of departure. This is similar to the carbon emissions an average person produces in a year. Global warming caused by carbon emissions is damaging Antarctica. At the Peninsula region, glaciers and ice shelves are retreating and sea ice is shrinking, affecting wildlife and vegetation. Of course, Antarctic tourism represents only a tiny fraction of overall emissions. However, the industry has a moral obligation to protect the place that maintains it. And tourism in Antarctica can compound damage from climate change, tipping delicate ecosystems into decline. Some operators use hybrid ships and less polluting fuels, and offset emissions to offer carbon-neutral travel. IAATO has pledged to halve emissions by 2050 – a positive step, but far short of the net-zero targets set by the International Maritime Organization. Can economics protect Antarctica? Market-based tools – such as taxes, cap-and-trade schemes and certification – have been used in environmental management around the world. Research shows these tools could also prevent Antarctic tourist numbers from getting out of control. One option is requiring visitors to pay a tourism tax. This would help raise revenue to support environmental monitoring and enforcement in Antarctica, as well as fund research. Such a tax already exists in the small South Asian nation of Bhutan, where each tourist pays a tax of US$100 (A$152) a night. But while a tax might deter the budget-conscious, it probably wouldn't deter high income, experience-driven tourists. Alternatively, a cap-and-trade system would create a limited number of Antarctica visitor permits for a fixed period. The initial distribution of permits could be among tourism operators or countries, via negotiation, auction or lottery. Unused permits could then be sold, making them quite valuable. Caps have been successful at managing tourism impacts elsewhere, such as Lord Howe Island, although there are no trades allowed in that system. Any cap on tourist numbers in Antarctica, and rules for trading, must be based on evidence about what the environment can handle. But there is a lack of precise data on Antarctica's carrying capacity. And permit allocations amongst the operators and nations would need to be fair and inclusive. Alternatively, existing industry standards could be augmented with independent schemes certifying particular practices – for example, reducing carbon footprints. This could be backed by robust monitoring and enforcement to avoid greenwashing. Looking ahead Given the complexities of Antarctic governance, our research finds that the most workable solution is a combination of these market-based options, alongside other regulatory measures. So far, parties to the Antarctic treaty have made very few binding rules for the tourism industry. And some market-based levers will be more acceptable to the parties than others. But doing nothing is not a solution. Darla Hatton MacDonald is a Professor of Environmental Economics at the University of Tasmania. Elizabeth Leane is a Professor of Antarctic Studies at the School of Humanities, University of Tasmania. The authors would like to acknowledge Valeria Senigaglia, Natalie Stoeckl and Jing Tian and the rest of the team for their contributions to the research upon which this article was based.
Reuters
5 hours ago
- Reuters
Taking a break, Pope Leo revives centuries-old tradition
CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, July 3 (Reuters) - Pope Leo will revive a centuries-old tradition on Sunday by taking a holiday at Castel Gandolfo, where residents of the lakeside town hope for a tourism boost after the late Pope Francis shunned taking a summer break. Leo, elected pope on May 8 after the death of Francis, will spend July 6-20 an hour's drive south of Rome in the sleepy hill town of about 8,900 residents on the shores of Lake Albano. The town's mayor and business owners hope his stay - the first by a pope in 12 years - will attract tourists hoping to see the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The Vatican has owned a papal palace in the town, including vast Renaissance-style gardens, since 1596, but Francis, who shunned much of the pomp and privilege of the papacy, chose not to take vacations, spending the summer in his Vatican residence. "Pope Leo has given us a wonderful gift," Stefano Carosi, the owner of a coffee shop on the town's main square, said. "The pope has always been important here ... because he attracts people." Mayor Alberto De Angelis said residents were excited about the visit. "The presence of the popes in Castel Gandolfo has always meant a lot of activity, a lot of economic growth," he said. While Leo is expected to spend most of his vacation out of the public eye, staying in a Vatican-owned building behind a gated wall, residents and tourists will have the opportunity to see him at religious celebrations on July 13 and 20. Dozens of popes have spent the summer months at Castel Gandolfo, where it is cooler than in Rome, which has been sweltering in an early summer heatwave with temperatures reaching more than 37 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit). Francis had Castel Gandolfo's papal palace turned into a museum and opened the gardens to visitors. Leo will not stay at the palace and the museum will remain open to the public, instead staying at another Vatican property. Although Francis never spent the night in Castel Gandolfo, residents said his decision to open the museum has had long-lasting benefits. Marina Rossi, owner of a mosaic studio in the town, said tourists used to come only in the summer to see the pope at one of his audiences, but now they came more frequently. "It was more of a hit-and-run tourism, because there was the audience and then they would leave," she said. "Now there is a steady flow of tourism throughout the whole year." Now, with Leo coming back, said Rossi, it gave the town the chance to attract even more tourists. "It's an important moment," she said. "I won't hide my happiness." As for what Leo might do during his vacation, Maurizio Carosi, brother of Stefano, had a suggestion, saying he'd tell the pope: "If you want a good glass of wine, come visit with me!"
The Sun
5 hours ago
- The Sun
European city that is the ‘birthplace of Italian chocolate' to get new Ryanair flights
TURIN, which is considered the capital of chocolate, is getting new flights from the UK. Ryanair is gearing up to take Brits to the Italian city later this year where you'll find local chocolate specialities, festivals and ski slopes. 5 5 Ryanair will operate a new route between Liverpool and Turin in Italy in winter 2025. The new flights will operate on Saturdays which start on December 13 and are now bookable until March 28. Prices for return flights start from £21.99. Turin is widely known as the 'chocolate capital of Italy ', it has a rich history and tradition of chocolate making dating back centuries. The city has numerous chocolate shops cafes, and festivals too. Turin celebrates its chocolate history with Cioccolatò. The festival holds various chocolate-related activities, like tastings and demonstrations. One delicacy in the city is called 'bicerin', it's a local drink with espresso, chocolate, and cream. The city also has a well-known restaurant called Porto di Savona that has been serving pasta since 1863. One Travel Writer who visited discovered they serve homemade gnocchi with Gorgonzola cheese which you can get for around £10, or tagliatelle with wild boar ragout for a tad more. Europe's highest hotel that you can only get to by cable car 5 5 Turin isn't just a place to indulge though, it's also good for winter sports too as it's surrounded by the Alps on its western and northern sides. It's a popular ski spot and the best time to hit the slopes in the city is from mid-December to early April, with the peak season being January and February. These months offer the best snow conditions and a good balance between reliable snowfall and the crowds won't be overwhelming either. There's also a lot to see in the city, from the Palazzo Reale, which is the royal palace. The Quadrilatero Romano is the neighborhood for upmarket vintage and fashionable pieces and great for window shopping. There are lots of museums too including Museo Egizio, which is the oldest in the world that is dedicated entirely to ancient Egyptian culture. Other new routes from Ryanair are between London Luton and Wrocław and between Edinburgh and Rzeszów which will start in winter 2025. For now, here are ten affordable summer holiday destinations with cheap Ryanair flights. Plus, The Sun travels to three cheapest Ryanair destinations this month and reveals which was really the best value overall. 5
