International Polar Tourism Research Network

The International Polar Tourism Research Network (IPTRN) is a group with a shared interest in research that advances the understanding of tourism in and about the Polar Regions. The IPTRN strives to generate, share and disseminate knowledge, resources and perspectives on polar tourism; and strongly supports the development of international collaboration and cooperative relationships between members.

The creation of the International Polar Tourism Research Network is the idea of a group of polar tourism researchers who met in 2006 at the Canadian Association of Geographers Annual Meeting held that year at Lakehead University, in Thunder Bay. They expressed the pressing need for an interdisciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration in the form of a network. Following another planning meeting in Rovaniemi, Finland, in 2007 the network was formalised with the holding of the first IPTRN conference and community workshop in Kangiqsujuaq, Nunavik, in 2008. Our current Steering Committee will serve until the next IPTRN conference.

Membership in the network includes individuals such as university researchers, consultants, tourism operators, government organizations, community members, and graduate students. The network welcomes new members who recognise, support, and actively participate in the network's mission. Simply email iptrnmail@gmail.com with the subject SUBSCRIBE and include your full name, organisation, and country in the body to join our mailing list.

We have held eight conferences to date and our next conference and community tour will be in Greenland from 28th Sept - 2nd Oct, 2026. More info about our upcoming conference is available here.

Tribute to Dieter K. Müller

We were shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden and unexpected passing of Dieter K. Müller on November 20th, 2025. 

Dieter was a founding member of the International Polar Tourism Research Network, sat on our steering committee for many years, and hosted two of our eight conferences.

In the document below, we have collected memories of Dieter from members of the IPTRN. 

If you would like to add your own photos or words to this document, please email them to: iptrnmail@gmail.com.

Check out the slides below for more details on the IPTRN, generated through surveying our Steering Committee members in 2025.