A member organization founded in 1991 to advocate and promote the practice
of safe and environmentally responsible private-sector travel to the Antarctic.
Latest News
We're Hiring - Extended deadline
We are currently recruiting for a full-time bookkeeper postion in our South Kingstown office in Rhode Island. The successful candidate will work with the executive director and director of governance & administration to set up and oversee the financial record keeping of the association, as well as support the director of governance & administration in ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local legal requirements.
Please click here for the position announcement and employment application.
Antarctic Visitors - Friends or Foe?
With frequent reports in the news about changing polar environments, IAATO welcomes questions about the possible impact of polar tourism. It's something we think about daily as we continue to work towards our mission of safe, environmentally responsible travel.
Read our latest thoughts in response to a recent enquiry from one of IAATO's Facebook followers.
IAATO is at the 2018 Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Buenos Aires.
13-18 May - Committed to the safe, responsible management of human activity in Antarctica, IAATO submits its visitor data annually to ATCM. Read our Information Papers here.
IAATO has concluded its 27th annual meeting.
IAATO has concluded its 27th annual meeting in Newport, Rhode Island, USA, having agreed to strengthen its mission of promoting the practice of safe, environmentally responsible travel to the Antarctic. Every year, members set aside competitive interests to have open and candid discussions on safety, environmental protection and self-regulation. Read more.
IAATO reports latest Antarctic visitor numbers as members gather for their annual meeting.
April 30 - IAATO can act as a role model for safe, environmentally responsible tourism as growth continues in line with global trends. IAATO has been monitoring, analyzing and reporting trends since 1991 as part of its commitment to ‘leave only footprints' through the effective self-management of its activities. Read more.Information for Yachts
Questions About IAATO or Antarctica?
For answers to questions like these, please take a few moments to peruse our extensive list of Frequently Asked Questions. Don't hesitate to Contact Us if you have other questions.
Travelling to Antarctica?
Download the free new IAATO app Polar Guide: Antarctica for iOS and Android!
Before you leave home, the company you are travelling with will send you important information about your obligations for visiting Antarctica safely and responsibly. You can also view IAATO's briefing films, with subtitles in several different languages, and our FAQ page. Visiting the white continent is an extraordinary and special experience; we all have a role to play in protecting it for future generations. Have an incredible journey!
Featured Articles and Events
Thinking of Flying a Drone in Antarctica?
2017 / 2018 - IAATO Members have agreed that they will not allow the recreational use of drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), in the unique, and often wildlife-rich, coastal areas of Antarctica until more is known about their responsible use. The ban will be reviewed annually in May to allow for potential technological advances and further developments within the regulatory community. Antarctic travellers interested in using a UAV for purposes other than recreational use in Antarctica must check with their tour operator or travel agent as far in advance of travel as possible. Read More
Get the Facts: Non-Native Species in Antarctica
Non-native species are those species that do not naturally occur in an area and have been introduced either intentionally or unintentionally. A wide range of non-native species now occur in Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands. IAATO commissions and participates in studies investigating the risks related to the inadvertent introduction of foreign species. Read More
Click on a Penguin for Conservation! 
Penguin Lifelines, a research project supported by IAATO, is using a platform called Zooniverse to allow volunteers to participate in real science. Interested members of the public can view time lapse imagery from Penguin Lifelines, and other researchers, online and help extract data by clicking on penguins. Read More
Why does Antarctica Matter?
IAATO was invited, with other Antarctic experts, to provide a two-minute video about why Antarctica matters to them as part of the Royal Geographical Society's Young Geographer of the Year competition. Found out why Antarctica matters to them here.