Visitor Documents

prevnext

Information for Visitors

 

Covid-19 Restrictions

 

Visiting South Georgia

 

 

 

 

Code of Conduct Whilst Ashore

 

Guidelines For The Provision Of Medical Care

 

Biosecurity

 

Visit Permit Holder Landing Declaration

 

Permit Holder Briefing & Assessment

 

Visiting Grytviken and King Edward Point

 

Post-Visit Report Form

 

Bird Strike

 

 

.

Expeditions: Policy and Application

 

The Government SGSSI has defined an expedition as "any person or group of people whose approved activities include overnight camping (night(s) ashore) on South Georgia, regardless of the aims of the expedition. These might include filming, mountaineering, skiing, science, longer trekking, sea kayaking, or other activities.

Expedition applications will be subject to an assessment process that draws advice from a panel of expert advisors (for which an administrative fee is charged). The advisory panel are guided by the planning factors and expedition guidelines in the downloaded information.

 

Visitor Site Review

 

As part of our 2016-2020 strategy, the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) committed to working with stakeholders to develop our visitor management policy to better take account of the impact and benefits of tourism and integrate visitor management into our thinking for a new system of terrestrial protected areas. We aim to ensure that visitors can access and enjoy South Georgia whilst still ensuring that the highest standards of environmental protection and safety are upheld.

The first stage of this process is to establish baseline information on how visitors (including science, media, BAS, Government and tourists) use terrestrial areas on South Georgia by gathering data on the current spatial extent of operations.  Input from expedition staff will be crucial to the success of this process.

We recognise that although for some sites there are specific visitor management plans, for others there is more open access and the potential for a higher degree of free roaming and so different operators may use the landscape differently. So we can capture this information, we have prepared a booklet which contains a map for each landing site. Please  mark/shade the area that you use at each location as part of your ordinary landings.

We are also interested in what you consider to be the attractions of each site (wildlife, scenery etc.), where these are located within the site and how the environmental situation on the day of landing (e.g. fur seals, position of rivers) affects how you use a site on any particular occasion.  Please also mark on the maps if there are areas within sites that you think are particularly sensitive and would benefit from additional monitoring efforts.

Assistance with this process is greatly appreciated and we would encourage you to take this opportunity to engage in this survey, which will really help develop management plans that facilitate access to South Georgia whilst protecting its unique environment.

Please return completed maps to ‘GSGSSI, Government House, Ross Road, Stanley, Falkland Islands, FIQQ 1ZZ'

Download: Visitor Site Use Survey [pdf, 6.4mb]

 

 

Expeditions Reports

 

2022

 

2020

 

2019

 

2018

 

2017

 

2016

 

2015

 

2014

 

2013

 

2012

 

2011

 

2010

 

2009

 

2008

 

2007

 

2006

 

2004/05

Site Visitor Management Plans (SVMP)

 

The Site Visitor Management Plans (SVMP) have been prepared for the most popular approved visitor landing sites and a number of overland walks.  These detail open access areas, closed areas and routes for overland walks.  Visitor management information is detailed as well as additional information such as hazards and areas which are particularly sensitive to disturbance.  

It is a condition of visit permits that these must be complied with and visit permit holders must ensure that all visitors and staff under their charge adhere to these plans.  SVMP are reviewed annually and visit permit holders must ensure that they have the most recent versions of the plans before they depart for South Georgia.

 

 
gpx files to download

Regulated Activities Permit

 

More information on the Regulated Activities Permit page.

  • RAP Category 1 application: here
  • RAP Category 2 application: here
  • RAP renewal application: here
  • RAP feedback form: here
  • Sample collection form [xls, 0.01mb] - any projects wishing to collect samples as part of their RAP application MUST use this form. You will be required to upload it to the RAP application portal as part of your application.

 

The Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Island has a Privacy Policy regarding the purpose, use and sharing of any Personal Information collected via Regulated Activity Permit applications:

 

Drone Information

Getting Married on South Georgia

 

With its stunning landscapes, abundant wildlife, and unique history, South Georgia is a very special place to get married. Your wedding can be incorporated as part of your visit to Grytviken.

If you decide this is what you want to do, you should contact the Government of South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands (GSGSSI) at least three months before your prospective wedding date. This allows for the practicalities of the marriage to be arranged before your visit so that your special day is relaxed and hassle-free.

Further details here.