Hands off the penguins, China tells its tourists to Antarctica
Chinese government comes up with rules to protect the continent’s wildlife as mainland holidaymakers account for a bigger share of visitors
Chinese visitors to the tourism hotspot of Antarctica have been told to leave the local wildlife alone or risk being banned from the area for up to three years.
Under new rules that came into effect on Thursday, the Chinese government has ordered individuals and tour organisers to minimise their impact on the Antarctic environment, explicitly banning them from introducing any pollutants, harmful materials or non-native flora or fauna.
The regulations from the State Oceanic Administration come as China accounts for a growing number of tourists to the frozen continent.
Last year China overtook Australia as the world’s second-largest source of travellers to the Antarctic, by sending about 5,500 tourists, or about 12 per cent of the total, according to the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators, a US-based eco-tourism industry group.
About one-third of the tourists are from the United States.
Trips from Beijing to the Antarctic usually include chartered flights or cruises and cost from about 60,000 yuan (US$9,500) to 130,000 yuan. Activities range from observing glaciers and penguins to visiting China’s research stations.