French polar chief derides Antarctic cruise as a jaunt
In an interview with AFP, Yves Frenot, director of the French Polar Institute, said he had no issue at all with rescuing those aboard the stricken vessel.
But, he said, the trip itself was a "pseudo-scientific expedition" that, because it had run into difficulties, had drained resources from the French, Chinese and Australian scientific missions in Antarctica. "There's no reason to place Antarctica off-limits and to keep it just for scientists, but this tourism has to be monitored and regulated so that operators can be sure of getting help if need be," he said.
- See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/world/story/french-polar-chief-derides-antarctic-cruise-jaunt-20140104#sthash.Ddkr3IVb.dpuf
But, he said, the trip itself was a "pseudo-scientific expedition" that, because it had run into difficulties, had drained resources from the French, Chinese and Australian scientific missions in Antarctica. "There's no reason to place Antarctica off-limits and to keep it just for scientists, but this tourism has to be monitored and regulated so that operators can be sure of getting help if need be," he said.
- See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/world/story/french-polar-chief-derides-antarctic-cruise-jaunt-20140104#sthash.Ddkr3IVb.dpuf
