Commercial tourism by sea and air has grown steadily since the first expeditions in the 1950s. Tourism has been concentrated mainly in the Antarctic Peninsula region by passenger ships from South America (Argentina and Chile).
The signatory countries to the Treaty and Protocol must stipulate an authorisation system for activities in Antarctica. Eligible visitors must obtain authorisations issued in advance by the respective competent authority of each party to the Antarctic Treaty. In Spain, the competent authority is the Spanish Polar Committee.
All expeditions organised or departing from Spanish territory and involving its vessels or nationals, whether governmental, non-governmental or tourist, must be authorised by the Spanish Polar Committee.
