From Middle Earth to the End

If the current trends continue, it is estimated that the 2008/2009 Antarctic Tourist season will bring in 40,000 visitors.  Contemporary tourism only begain in the 1950’s and was off to a slow start. Your typical tourist is 60 or over with lots of extra money lying around, weeks with nothing better to do and wanting to check the last continent off the list before they kick the can.  With these growing numbers there are lots of debates over enviornmental impacts.  Currently, the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators is trying to regulate and document all impacts.  Heres a question for you: Do the tourists have a bigger impact with higher numbers or the scientists who have more days on the ice?