"Dynamic natural events and human activities in the Polar Regions are having a significant combined impact on these fragile environments ... Partly responsible for these changes and impacts is an increase in tourism, which is now one of the principal human activities in the Polar Regions ... This publication outlines the key features of the Polar Region environment and describes tourism's multiple roles and impacts in both the Arctic and Antarctica ... The publication proposes an agenda for sustainable tourism development, and outlines principles, guidelines and selected good practices to conserve these unique wilderness areas through regulation and management"--Publisher's description.; pt. 1. Introduction and background. The significance of polar tourism -- pt. 2. The polar environment. The geography of polar tourism -- pt. 3. Tourism in the polar regions : facts, trends and impacts. Introduction -- A brief history of polar tourism -- Polar tourism's diverse markets -- Environmental, economic, social and cultural impacts of polar tourism -- The outlook for polar tourism : reduced "barriers to entry" -- Conclusion -- pt. 4. Sustainable tourism in the polar regions : setting up an agenda. Introduction -- Management conditions : wilderness -- Management issues -- Management techniques -- The special case of adventure tourism -- Cultural resource management -- Managing the mass market -- Conclusion -- pt. 5. Good practices in polar regions. Introduction -- The Arctic -- Antarctica and the sub-polar islands.