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Chinese tourists have been told that they should avoid the South Pole as they seek ever more interesting holidays.

With Chinese people enjoying a rise in personal wealth, many are seeking holidays which appeal to their needs.

However, concerns have been raised about safety and environmental issues, with Chinese authorities keen to stick to the agreements set out in the Antarctic Treaty.

'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,' a government official told the state-run Xinhua 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.'

Chinese tourists have reportedly been paying as much as 100,000 yuan (£6,500) for a trip to the South Pole and this is causing concern among polar scientists.

In June, it was revealed that Antarctic tourism had quadrupled in the last eight years, raising fears that the world's largest wilderness may become a victim of holidaymakers.

© Adfero Ltd