ABSTRACT
In an investigation into commercial tourism in a remote location such as Antarctica, it is important that the subjects at the core of much of the debate are understood. As was outlined in the previous chapter, tourists are seen by some as posing a potential threat to the Antarctic environment, and as such, they deserve closer analysis. It is, for example, necessary to establish their demographic backgrounds, their images of Antarctica as a tourist destination, and their expectations of an Antarctic holiday. As Stonehouse and Crosbie (1995:22) point out: "It is clearly important to know what tourists themselves seek from their experience, and whether their demands differ significantly from what tour operators provide for them." This chapter introduces surveys that have been conducted by various researchers and discusses the findings of the surveys conducted by the author.
