- New research shows that tourists in Antarctica are causing pollution and physical disturbances, threatening the biodiversity of the region.
- Over 40,000 people visit Antarctica each year, leaving footprints that can last for centuries.
- The destruction caused by tourism is not enough to deter tourists and media looking for unique travel segments.
- The main reason people visit Antarctica is to see penguins, but the ice shelf is rapidly diminishing.
- There is a need for a strong anti-tourist campaign to discourage people from visiting Antarctica.

Tourism in Antarctica is ruining the environment. 
So don't go there. Just go to Alaska. Who even knows the difference?

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New research from Australian scientists says tourists are threatening the Antarctic biodiversity with pollution and physical disturbances.

More than 40,000 people actually visit Antarctica every single year, and scientists say even walking on moss beds will leave footprints that could last for centuries.

Look, I know this isn't how I'm supposed to react to that, but that really makes me want to work on an Antarctic moss bed.

Which is why Antarctica is in serious trouble.

Environmental destruction is not enough to stop the tide of tourists and morning shows desperate for unusual travel segment filler.

You may not think of Antarctica as a vacation destination, but apparently that's changing.

The number 1 reason folks say they come on tour groups to see those human-like flightless birds, the penguins.

-$$TRANSMISSIONS Some of the freshest water you'll probably ever taste because it dates back 400,000 years.

Tragically, the Antarctic ice shelf is rapidly diminishing.

I know we're not supposed to go to Antarctica, but there are free penguins and snow cones there.

So they're going to have to launch a pretty strong anti-tourist campaign, or we'll do it for them.

Antarctica, the majestic seventh continent.

An unspoiled land of incredible ice formations that you simply have to see.

And seeing as how you're looking at them right now, you've technically seen them.

You want to feel the bracing cold on your skin?

It's like you're actually here, which hopefully you're not.

Our point is, You don't need to come here.

Want to impress your friends by going someplace exotic?

And if you simply have to have ice, go to Alaska and tell them you went to Antarctica.

We don't care where in the world you go, just so long as it's in this general area and not here.


Speaker 0: Let's talk about Antarctica. I'm afraid it's been a week of bad news.

Speaker 1: New research from Australian scientists says tourists are threatening the Antarctic biodiversity with pollution and physical disturbances. More than 40,000 people actually visit Antarctica every single year, and scientists say even walking on moss beds will leave footprints that could last for centuries.

Speaker 0: Look, I know this isn't how I'm supposed to react to that, but that really makes me want to work on an Antarctic moss bed. Which is why Antarctica is in serious trouble. Environmental destruction is not enough to stop the tide of tourists and morning shows desperate for unusual travel segment filler.

Speaker 1: You may not think of Antarctica as a vacation destination, but apparently that's changing. The number 1 reason folks say they come on tour groups to see those human-like flightless birds, the penguins. And then they... Ha ha ha ha ha! And then they cry when they're hungry.

Ah! Ah! Ah! -$$TRANSMISSIONS Some of the freshest water you'll probably ever taste because it dates back 400,000 years.

Speaker 0: What are you doing?! Oh! Tragically, the Antarctic ice shelf is rapidly diminishing. Now, if you'll excuse me... Oh!

Mmm. Mmm. Mwah. So pure. Mwah.

So rare. That is the problem. I know we're not supposed to go to Antarctica, but there are free penguins and snow cones there. So they're going to have to launch a pretty strong anti-tourist campaign, or we'll do it for them.

Speaker 2: Antarctica, the majestic seventh continent. An unspoiled land of incredible ice formations that you simply have to see. And seeing as how you're looking at them right now, you've technically seen them. So don't come here. Seriously.

You want to feel the bracing cold on your skin? Stick your dick in a freezer. You want to see a seal up close? Here. Here's a seal up close.

Now here's a seal in HD. Now it's in 3D. It's like you're actually here, which hopefully you're not. Our point is, You don't need to come here. Want to impress your friends by going someplace exotic?

How about Belgium? Have your friends been to Belgium? No? Then it's exotic to them. And if you simply have to have ice, go to Alaska and tell them you went to Antarctica.

They won't know the difference. Hey, guess which of these is Alaska? You don't know, do you? It's both of them. We don't care where in the world you go, just so long as it's in this general area and not here.

Antarctica. Stop coming here.

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Don't Visit Antarctica: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)