Antarctica's pristine, frozen landscapes are experiencing a surge in tourism, fuelled by growing fears that climate change is causing irreversible melting. However, experts are now warning that this influx of visitors brings an increased risk of contamination, illness, and other potential damage to the continent's delicate ecosystem.
Despite the high costs and significant travel time involved, visitor numbers, though still small, are escalating rapidly, prompting scientists and environmentalists to raise serious concerns. This burgeoning trend was underscored by a deadly outbreak of the rare hantavirus aboard a Dutch ship during a weeks-long polar cruise.
