Within the tourism literature generated, there has been a development Of 'management models' designed to describe, explain, manage, control and predict the spatial organisation Of tourism activities in differing contexts. It is pertinent then , to examine the concept of an Antarctic tourism management model, its application in Antarctic tourism , and the value in explaining and predicting tourism development in critical environments such as that of the Antarctic. One hesitates to utilise the term 'tourism development' with regard to Antarctica, where a preference of the terms, 'tourism management' , 'tourism restraints' and 'tourism controls' is more readily acceptable. However , in Order to identify suitable management models for the Antarctic , some attention must be given to the management models incorporating development, such as the principles for the sustainabl e dev el opment oftourism. A large propmiion Of tourism in under-developed and developing countries constitutes nature-based tourism, in particular, tourism in parks and protected areas, a significant number of which are located in mountainous regions. Their potential for tourism has been well exploited, for example, in the Western European Alps, the Nmih American Rockies, and, to some extent, the Himalayas. However, as a mountain destination normally experiences higher intensity Of tourism development, the potential for conflict between maintaining a healthy natural environment and economic development also increases. The World Tourism Organisation defines the term sustainable tourism as one which improves the quality Of life Of host communities, provides a high quality experience for the guest, and maintains the quality of the environment On which they both depend (WTO, 1993). There are numerous examples tlu•oughout the world where mitigation effmis in the name of sustainable tourism have been self-serving and reactive, Within the tourism literature generated, there has been a development Of 'management models' designed to describe, explain, manage, control and predict the spatial organisation Of tourism activities in differing contexts. It is pertinent then , to examine the concept of an Antarctic tourism management model, its application in Antarctic tourism , and the value in explaining and predicting tourism development in critical environments such as that of the Antarctic. One hesitates to utilise the term 'tourism development' with regard to Antarctica, where a preference of the terms, 'tourism management' , 'tourism restraints' and 'tourism controls' is more readily acceptable. However , in Order to identify suitable management models for the Antarctic , some attention must be given to the management models incorporating development, such as the principles for the sustainabl e dev el opment oftourism. A large propmiion Of tourism in under-developed and developing countries constitutes nature-based tourism, in particular, tourism in parks and protected areas, a significant number of which are located in mountainous regions. Their potential for tourism has been well exploited, for example, in the Western European Alps, the Nmih American Rockies, and, to some extent, the Himalayas. However, as a mountain destination normally experiences higher intensity Of tourism development, the potential for conflict between maintaining a healthy natural environment and economic development also increases. The World Tourism Organisation defines the term sustainable tourism as one which improves the quality Of life Of host communities, provides a high quality experience for the guest, and maintains the quality of the environment On which they both depend (WTO, 1993). There are numerous examples tlu•oughout the world where mitigation effmis in the name of sustainable tourism have been self-serving and reactive,