In 2025-26, more than 120,000 tourists visited Antarctica; some former guides now say the industry crossed a line

July 28, 2026 - 04:15

A new study reveals that a growing number of former Antarctic tour guides have quit the industry, citing an impossible conflict between their love for the frozen continent and the damage caused by the very tourism they once promoted. More than 120,000 visitors are expected to travel to Antarctica during the 2025-26 season, a record number that has sparked a crisis of conscience among those who know the region best.

Researchers interviewed 25 former guides who described a painful shift in perspective. Many said they entered the field because they wanted to share Antarctica's beauty with the world. But over time, watching climate change melt glaciers and disrupt wildlife while they helped bring thousands of tourists each season made them question their role. One guide told researchers that the industry had "crossed a line," turning a fragile wilderness into a destination for luxury cruises and bucket-list checkmarks.

The study highlights a deeper tension. Guides are often the first to witness the effects of warming temperatures, from collapsing ice shelves to shifting penguin colonies. Yet their jobs depend on a steady flow of visitors, many of whom burn vast amounts of fuel just to get there. Several former guides said they felt like they were "selling out" the very place they wanted to protect.

As Antarctic tourism continues to grow, the voices of these former guides raise uncomfortable questions about whether the industry can ever be truly sustainable. For now, the study suggests that some of the most passionate advocates for the continent have decided that the cost is simply too high.