ATWS – E Norway Images: Pre-Summit
October 20, 2008
Pre-Summit activities have begun at the Adventure Travel World Summit in Norway. The following are a few photos from Tromsø and Sommarøy, Norway.
(Click images to view gallery)
View of Tromsøbrua Bridge in Tromsø early in the morning.
Sommarøy group hiking down the side of a 211m Eagle Mountain.
View from the white sand, coral beaches on Sommarøy Island.
Images: © ATTA / Garth Reckers
Wildlife Expeditions of Teton Science Schools
October 16, 2008
Wildlife Expeditions is an educational outreach program of Teton Science Schools, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) environmental education organization that was established in 1967. Wildlife Expedition’s stated purpose is to “connect people to nature through responsible wildlife observation and natural history exploration.” Last year, over 6,500 wildlife enthusiasts went on various expeditions with us, enjoying all four seasons in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. And, while we can accommodate large groups, most of these tours consisted of small intimate groups of four to seven people with over 50% of the expeditions geared toward families.
“More than Footprints” Campaign Lets Travelers Leave a Lasting Impression on the World via Democratic Philanthropy
October 10, 2008
Editor’s Note: Each and every organization featured in the following campaign is deserving. If you’re at all on the proverbial fence in which organization to vote for, we encourage you to give special consideration to the ATTA’s strategic partner, Conservation International, especially for its work in promoting sustainability throughout the entire adventure/ecotourism supply chain.
NEWTON, Mass. – TripAdvisor®, the world’s largest travel community, launched in mid-September 2008 the “More than Footprints” philanthropic initiative, in which TripAdvisor will donate $1 million to five travel-related nonprofits. With nearly 20 million reviews and opinions from real travelers, TripAdvisor believes in the power of the collective voice. Accordingly, TripAdvisor will divide the $1 million between the nonprofits democratically, through online voting. Voting is open through November 9, 2008.
This “democratic philanthropy” not only fits the TripAdvisor ethos, it also empowers people to have a direct impact on corporate giving at a time when the economic downturn might make individual donations difficult. By simply voting online in the “More than Footprints” initiative, people can leave a lasting impression on the world.
We’re all aware of the popular travel mantra, “Take only pictures, leave only footprints.” TripAdvisor believes people can leave more than footprints behind when traveling – by making a difference in the places they visit.
The five travel-related nonprofits TripAdvisor selected to participate in the “More than Footprints” initiative are:
· Conservation International – Eco-tourism
· Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) – Emergency relief
· National Geographic Society – Exploring and sustaining authentic places
· The Nature Conservancy – Environmental protection
· Save the Children – Aiding children around the world
Voting takes place at www.tripadvisor.com/Causes. After voting ends, each nonprofit will get a portion of the $1 million donation, based on the percentage of total votes it receives. Although each person may vote only once, they can build extra support for the cause they choose by referring friends to cast their own votes. Each participating nonprofit is guaranteed to receive at least $50,000 from TripAdvisor. Results will be announced on November 12.
“We’re a community of travelers around the world, and we wanted to do something that could really make a positive difference in people’s lives,” said Steve Kaufer, founder and CEO, TripAdvisor. “It’s also an election year, so voting is on everyone’s mind. We know that people want their voices to be heard, and we hope they’ll raise those voices collectively to help us support nonprofits addressing global problems.”
About TripAdvisor Media Network
TripAdvisor® Media Network, operated by TripAdvisor, LLC, attracts more than 32 million monthly visitors* across 12 popular travel brands: TripAdvisor®, www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.holidaywatchdog.com, www.independenttraveler.com, www.onetime.com, www.seatguru.com, www.smartertravel.com, www.travel-library.com, www.travelpod.com and www.virtualtourist.com. TripAdvisor-branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 25 million monthly visitors*, six million registered members and nearly 20 million reviews and opinions. Featuring real advice from real travelers, TripAdvisor-branded sites cover 300,000+ hotels and attractions and operate in the U.S. (http://www.tripadvisor.com), the U.K. (http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk), Ireland (http://www.tripadvisor.ie), France (http://www.tripadvisor.fr), Germany (http://www.tripadvisor.de), Italy (http://www.tripadvisor.it), Spain (http://www.tripadvisor.es) and India (http://www.tripadvisor.in). TripAdvisor® Media Network provides travel suppliers with graphical advertising opportunities and a cost-per-click marketing platform. Collectively, the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Network have won hundreds of awards and accolades from press and industry worldwide. TripAdvisor and the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Network are operating companies of Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE).
*Source: comScore Media Metrix, July 2008
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Travel Latin – PERU
October 10, 2008
Since we started operating, we have had the urgency of looking after the social environment where we work, always searching to improve the work of Andean man, combining it with responsible tourism. The conservation of nature and culture is a priority in our daily activities. The results are our best reward and are tangible in our clients’ satisfaction. Our compromise goes beyond advising and organizing trips made to measure; we have a system that involves the active participation of the local population, leaving conventional routes behind and innovating various proposals and experiences.
Totally Tourism
October 10, 2008
Totally Tourism is a family owned sightseeing and adventure business offering a range of activities in the South Island of New Zealand. Our aim is to share our piece of paradise while preserving the very essence of it’s being. From groups to the discerning, spirited traveller and responsible individual, experiences on offer range from helicopter adventures, scenic flights of discovery or hiking on a glacier to jetboating, whitewater rafting, bungy jumping, heliskiing and more. New Zealand has been known as the Adventure Capital of the World but only a personal experience will confirm if this is the case.
Africa Adventure Consultants Highlights Destinations, Trends for 2009
October 9, 2008
DENVER, CO (October 9, 2008) – Despite challenging economic times, record numbers of Americans are finalizing their plans right now for their “trip of a lifetime” to Africa in 2009. Kent Redding, one of the leading experts in African travel today, outlines what he sees as key trends in travel to Africa in 2009.
“There are some clear trends when it comes to African travel for 2009,” said Kent Redding, President of Africa Adventure Consultants. “Destinations like Zambia and Zimbabwe are lighting up, and travelers are increasingly incorporating eco-friendly travel options into their safaris. Our clients are also, now more than ever, looking for ways to stretch their dollar the furthest when planning a safari to Africa.”
The following are five key trends in African Travel for 2009:
Carbon Neutral Travel: 2009 will be the “moment of truth” for Carbon Neutral travel and Carbon Offsets. Consumers have proved slow to fully grasp these initiatives, and these trends will either take hold in 2009 – or fade away.
Wild Africa: Zambia is definitely the rising star of the African travel industry. With new properties, remote game reserves and specialist safari guides, in-the-know safari operators like Africa Adventure Consultants can now offer a true “wild Africa” experience.
Second Chance for Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe may be coming back on the radar when it comes to African safaris, following word of the power-sharing agreement among the politicians there. Soon the country may be in a position to rebuild and flourish and the entire African travel industry anxiously awaits its rebirth.
Competitive Prices: As domestic airfare prices soar in 2009, air travel to Africa is still affordable. With new flight routes to Africa being added all the time, prices should remain affordable well into 2009.
Value: As the American economy faces some of its greatest challenges since the Great Depression, even luxury travelers are branching out and demanding more value for their travel dollars. Many travelers are seeking out destination specialists, such as Africa Adventure Consultants, who can help them plan an itinerary that is an outstanding travel experience but at less overall cost.
Denver-based African safari expert Africa Adventure Consultants organizes safari adventures throughout East and Southern Africa, with destinations including Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Namibia, Botswana, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia, Victoria Falls and most recently, Ethiopia. The company sells destinations they know personally and offer guests assurance of strong on-the-ground partnerships with only the best local companies. Africa Adventure Consultants supports a variety of African conservation organizations, community-based tourism programs and humanitarian causes. And now, the company runs a completely carbon neutral office in Denver and is further committed to carbon neutral safaris by automatically offsetting 50% of each African trip they sell as well as offering clients the opportunity to offset the remaining 50%. With an eye on personal service, the principals create carbon neutral safaris and customized trips for individuals and small groups. To learn more, please call 1.866.778.1089.
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About Africa Adventure Consultants
Denver-based Africa Adventure Consultants organizes carbon neutral safari adventures throughout East and Southern Africa, with destinations including Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Namibia, Botswana, Malawi, South Africa, Zambia and Victoria Falls. The company sells destinations they know personally and offer guests assurance of strong on-the-ground partnerships with only the best local companies. Africa Adventure Consultants supports a variety of African conservation organizations, community-based tourism programs and humanitarian causes. With an eye on personal service, the principals create customized carbon neutral safaris for individuals and small groups. To enquire about a safari with Africa Adventure Consultants please contact Kent Redding, President, at 1.303.778.1089 or 1.866.778.1089.
High-res images for publication available upon request. Please contact Sarah Fazendin at Sarah@FazendinPortfolio.com or call our office at 1.303.993.7906 with any media inquiries.
Geckogo Becomes Fastest Growing Site for User-generated Travel Content
October 7, 2008
Mountain View, October 7, 2008. Today GeckoGo officially launches to the public. GeckoGo is the go-to source for independent travelers to plan their trip, research destinations, get travel inspiration and give back to the travel community.
GeckoGo is not another travel website with maps and a flight cost estimator. It is a portal to fill in the all the gaps in between those two, with a free, fast and insightful peer-to-peer distribution of knowledge. With 9% of users adding information, compared to 1% that’s typical for similar sites, GeckoGo is not just another login; it’s the fastest growing source of unique user-generated travel content on the web.The idea is simple. Rather than being a travel resource that pretends to know the best empanada stands in Ecuador and hiking routes in Nepal, GeckoGo built a platform for people to share that information with each other.
Quietly available since July 2008, GeckoGo has become the fastest growing source of unique user-generated travel related content on the web. Already GeckoGo registers over 54,000 unique travel tips.
Eighty-percent of independent travelers use the internet to do their travel research, [1] but 77% of users say they can find the travel information they need on the internet only if they search multiple sites [2]. GeckoGo plans to simplify this search process by being available where the users are (whether on the web or on social utility sites such as Facebook or MySpace,) by making suggestions and recommendations on destinations to visit by learning travelers’ interests, and by encouraging travelers to interact with and help one another.
In celebration of its official launch, GeckoGo has teamed up with Intrepid Travel to offer the “Search for the Ultimate Intrepid Traveler Contest“.
For the month of October, anyone can enter to win a mystery trip worth at least $6000USD to be part of Intrepid’s R&D team scouting out new and adventurous destinations. To enter, the participant simply creates an account and fills out all the cities he or she has visited and provides worthy travel tips to other users. The finalists will be chosen by a notable panel of judges including Jamling Norgay, the son of the first Sherpa to summit Mount Everest and Chris Doyle the Vice President of the Adventure Travel Trade Association.
About GeckoGo
GeckoGo was founded in 2007 by Aaron Chow, Eric MacKinnon, Indra Heckenbach and Pokin Yeung. It is a travel planning and inspiration source for independent travelers, and host to the fastest growing source of unique travel content on the Internet. GeckoGo is based in Mountain View, California and Vancouver, British Columbia.
[1] “New Horizons II Study – The Young Independent Traveller” Study, 2007[2] GeckoGo user survey of 228 users, May 2008
For more information please contact: Alexia Nestora, 303.898.3376, alexia@lassocommunications.com
Adventure Travel Industry Launches Global Benchmarking Standard to Gauge Adventure Market Competitiveness
October 2, 2008
Index Includes Feature Adventure Destinations Assam, India and Peru
(SEATTLE, WA) – October 2, 2008 – The Adventure Travel Trade Association, in collaboration with The George Washington University and Xola Consulting, Inc. today announced the launch of the Adventure Tourism Development Index (ATDI), an assessment and marketing tool to support entrepreneurs and governments developing and marketing sustainable adventure tourism.
The ATDI and its supporting Feature Adventure Destination (FAD) program is an important initiative through which partners hope to mobilize the global adventure tourism industry around a competitive market standard. The ATDI standard is designed to support the creation of competitive markets that are sustainable and drive benefits for communities and the environment. In 2008, Feature Adventure Destinations Assam, India and Peru commissioned in-country, in-depth qualitative assessments and marketing support from the ATDI team to apply the its 10 Pillars approach and demonstrate their commitment to sustainable adventure tourism market development.
The ATDI benchmarks countries according to its 10 Pillars of Adventure Tourism Market Competitiveness, factors shown to be necessary for competitive, sustainable adventure tourism:
1. Government policies supporting sustainable development
2. Safety
3. Infrastructure
4. Natural Resources
5. Cultural Resources
6. Adventure Activity Resources
7. Entrepreneurship
8. Humanitarian/ Human Development
9. Health
10. Image
As a new industry standard, the ATDI’s 10 Pillars of Adventure Tourism Market Competitiveness are helping reshape the global perception and understanding of adventure tourism as a viable means of fostering entrepreneurship and economic development.
Recognizing the important differences between competitive mainstream tourism markets and competitive adventure tourism markets, the ATDI emphasizes different aspects of market development more heavily – for example, the importance of entrepreneurship, a factor crucial to sparking business development in rural areas. In emphasizing different aspects of development, the ATDI offers tourism destinations an alternative way of looking at market potential and investment and development strategies. For travelers and tour operators, the ATDI signals destinations where there may be untapped potential for adventure travel.
The ATDI organizes countries in two categories: Developed and Developing. The 2008 ATDI, whose benchmarks feature 27 Developed Countries and 164 Developing Countries, revealed top countries for competitive adventure tourism according to the sustainable criteria in the 10 Pillars:
Top 10 Developing Countries: Estonia, Chile, Slovak Republic, Czech Republic, Hungary, Botswana, Bulgaria, Jordan, Latvia, and Uruguay.
Top 10 Developed Countries: Switzerland, Sweden, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Spain, U.S., Norway, Germany, Iceland and France.
ATDI benchmarks are calculated by The George Washington University and the Adventure Travel Trade Association using economic and environmental data from institutions such as the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, UNESCO, and Transparency International among others, and adventure tourism industry survey data. A complete discussion of the methodology is available at www.gwu.iits/ATDI.htm.
2008 Feature Adventure Destinations
In Peru, PromPeru, the agency responsible for marketing Peru tourism, recognized that the underdeveloped North and Central regions could play a larger role in the country’s tourism industry but wanted to find ways to market and develop these areas with sensitivity. Three Hotspots – Trujillo, Huaraz, and Chachapoyas – were selected for their mix of resources to appeal to adventure travelers – each with a compelling mix of natural, cultural, and adventure sporting resources. Additionally, these Hotspots were found to have a good base level of infrastructure and community support for tourism development. Itineraries for each Hotspot were suggested, as well as a unifying marketing theme for the three regions.
In Assam, India, state policymakers saw the opportunity to capitalize on India’s rapidly expanding tourism market to draw more visitors to the Assam. The state’s tourism department leaders requested not only recommendations for adventure product development, but also wanted to ensure that new products would reach an audience of tour operators and travelers to begin operating trips in the region. In addition, the state’s leaders were very concerned that any new market development initiatives encourage sustainable, responsible tourism. Seven adventure tourism zones or “Hotspots” and provided itineraries for each.
Excerpts of the report provided to state policymakers have been made available in the ATDI 2008 Feature Adventure Destination Report here: www.adventuretravelnews.com and www.gwu.edu/iits and www.xolaconsulting.com/atdi.php. Forward queries to: atdi@gwu.edu.
Why The ATDI is Necessary
As more destinations and businesses enter the adventure tourism industry, there is a need for guidelines for responsible development. Through the ATDI’s 10 Pillars, ATTA, GW and Xola offer a set of principles to structure the adventure industry’s growth, ensuring that any new markets created will be sustainable, delivering benefits into the future for the local environment and people.
Industry participants and media are encouraged to visit www.gwutourism.org/iits/ATDI.htm or www.xolaconsulting.com/atdi.php for more information about the ATDI.
About the Partners
Established in 1990, the Seattle-based ATTA (www.adventuretravel.biz) is a global membership organization dedicated to unifying, professionalizing, promoting and responsibly growing the adventure travel market worldwide. ATTA Members include tour operators, destination marketing organizations, tourism boards, travel agents/agencies, guides, lodges/resorts/attractions, media, and service providers. Host of the Adventure Travel World Summits, the ATTA provides professional support, development, education, research, marketing, career building, networking and cost saving resources to its members.
The George Washington University’s International Institute of Tourism Studies has held a leadership role in tourism and hospitality education for over 30 years, building a global reputation for tourism research and academic programs. Today, IITS, located within GW’s School of Business, offers academic opportunities in tourism administration, event management, sport management, and sustainable destination management for undergraduate, master’s, and professional students.
Xola Consulting, Inc. (www.xolaconsulting.com) provides consulting services to individual adventure tour company operators and tourism boards interested in adventure tourism development for the benefit of rural communities and the environment. Xola also specializes in supporting organizations seeking to blend adventure tourism and volunteer service. Xola consultants have in-depth experience in emerging markets around the world including Central and South America, North Africa and Asia, including Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma), India, Nepal, Mongolia and China.
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