Tourists urged to 'stay away' from South Pole

Officials in China are urging its inhabitants to desist from taking holidays in the South Pole.

The country, which is a signatory of the Antarctic Treaty, is warning wealthy Chinese that they should look for exciting new experiences away from the region, reports the Xinhua news agency.

It is thought that increasing numbers of people throughout the globe have been taking holidays to the South Pole in recent years, causing potential problems to the area's unique environment and fragile ecology.

"The politics are sensitive in Antarctica, the natural conditions harsh and ecology fragile, so we are not currently considering opening up the area for tourists," government officials said, according to the news agency..

"It is inadvisable for domestic companies or groups to organise Antarctic tourism without authorisation until such time as it becomes an approved tourist destination."

Tourism to Antarctica has quadrupled since the turn of the decade, according to a scientific study last year.