Abstract

What makes an experience sustainable? Can polar cruise tourism in the High Arctic ever be sustainable? If so, under what conditions? These questions guide this report as it explores tensions embedded in the concept of 'sustainable polar cruise tourism'. These matters are of particular importance in Svalbard, with a rapidly developing tourism sector being an important part of the Svalbard economy. The report is based on a participatory workshop held on-board a recent expedition to the Svalbard archipelago, the so-called SEES expedition (the Scientific Expedition EdgeOya Svalbard). Conducted as a combined scientific and touristic expedition, the SEES expedition offers opportunity to explore the meaning(s) of sustainability among environmentally aware visitors representing key actor groups on Svalbard. The purpose of the report is thus to contribute to ongoing conversations on the paradoxes of sustainable polar tourism by sharing experiences and perspectives on what sustainability can mean from a passenger point of view.

Keywords

Svalbard; Arctic tourism; sustainable; sustainability; expedition cruise; environment

Published in

Polar Journal
2023, Volume: 13, number: 1, pages: 177-185
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Ltd.

SLU Authors

• Löf, Annette

  • Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)

UKÄ Subject classification

Economic Geography
Environmental Sciences


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/2154896X.2023.2205249

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/129514