The record for Antarctic tourist visits was set in the 2007-2008 season with 46,265 people visiting Antarctica. This number dipped significantly in 2010-2011 to 34,000 and it is expected to plummet again this year. That may be a good thing. Antarctic observers are noticing breaches of what is called "biosecurity," in that bits of soil and fungus spores are infiltrating the continent with incoming produce, food, supplies, and tourists. But the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) thinks this summer (remember it’s the Southern Hemisphere, so there summer is around the end of the calendar year) thinks that number will decrease significantly, possibly by as much as 25%.
In part, the decrease is related to a fuel ban which is going to result in keeping very large vessels away from Antarctica. However, it may also be that the world’s unhealthy economy is also a key factor, because in a tight economy, it is hard to make a trip to Antarctica into a necessity.