Arctic Tourism

Tourism to the Arctic is far from a contemporary phenomenon: The region’s harsh but spectacular scenery has long been a draw for explorers, scientists, and adventurers seeking to journey to the ends of the earth. The earliest tourists to the Arctic were 19th-century Western European and North American anglers, hunters, and mountaineers lured in by promises of exotic wildlife and remote landscapes. Developments in steamship and diesel rail travel later opened up routes to the north to larger numbers of visitors, and today, the Arctic has become one of the world’s most coveted destinations and is one of the fastest growing markets for tourism.