Women Tourists May Go To Antarctica

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31548, 9 December 1967, Page 14

Women Tourists May Go To Antarctica

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, December 8. Self-supporting groups of tourists, including women, will be allowed to visit New Zealand stations in Antarctica, but only if they comply with stringent conditions laid down by the Government.

Although Scott Base is designed for “male only” living, suitable arrangements will be made for women to accompany tourist groups. Regions designated “science areas" will be out of bounds to tourists unless they are guided through them, as part of an organised group, by an official from Scott Base. Releasing today a detailed statement of Government policy on conditions of access to New Zealand stations in the Antarctic, the Prime

Minister (Mr Hblyoake) recalled that the Government had already received a request for permission to visit Scott Base and other New Zealand stations from an American travel organisation which proposed to conduct two tourist cruises to Antarctica next January. Mr Holyoake said that for some time the partner Governments to the Antarctic Treaty had beeen concerned about the possible consequences of uncontrolled tourist activity in Antarctica, both for the safety of tourists in the harsh climate and terrain, and for the possible disruption of scientific work.

At their consultative meeting last year, the treaty partners had agreed that each Government would draw up conditions under which tourist groups would be permitted to visit its bases.

After dealing with some of the agreed measures governing group visits, Mr Holyoake said tourist expeditions would have to seek approval in principle through tiie superintendent, Antarctic division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, who would require evidence that the expedition was entirely self-supporting and that adequate safety precautions were being undertaken. He would also require assurances that the organisers would comply with the Antarctic Treaty and other conditions applicable at the stations to be visited.

Final permission for such visits would be given by the leader, Scott Base, in the light of the situation in the area at the time.