Europe
First ATTA Regional Meeting in Sweden: Thursday, September 2nd
September 1, 2010
This Thursday, September 2, 2010, the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) will hold its first Adventure/Nature Tourism Regional Meeting in Sweden. The ATTA-Västsvenska Turistrådet (West Sweden Tourist Board) meeting will be held in Gothenburg between 14:00 and 17:00. The event is open to all travel industry professionals, and will be conducted in English. Click here for Free Registration (required). Agenda Introductions – Fanny Bergström and Joakim Hermanson of Västsvenska Turistrådet/West Sweden Tourist Board Fanny and Joakim will start the meeting to present the strategy for nature tourism for West Sweden ATTA’s Vice President Chris Doyle will deliver a briefing that includes: North American and adventure tourism research & trends Macro-trends in global adventure tourism Sustainability in adventure tourism ATTA News & Initiatives Briefing, including the 2010 Adventure Travel World Summit After... Read More →
Member Press ReleasesIn The Saddle named by the British Travel Awards as contender for the Best Activity/Sports Tour Operator
August 13, 2010
The company is up against stiff competition but, as Olwen Law, managing director of In The Saddle explains, the company is thrilled to be nominated: “We are the first equestrian company to be listed for these awards, and we are delighted to have been nominated. We’re up against some very well known companies as these are, essentially, THE awards for the travel industry. We receive amazing feedback from customers each and every day so we are hoping to translate this positivity into votes to be in with a chance of winning.” BTA’s chief executive Lorraine Barnes Burton said: “The British Travel Awards are widely considered to be the “Oscars” of the travel industry! It’s the largest awards programme in the UK created to reward travel companies and the winning accolade is the benchmark for excellence when it comes to finding out who really is the best in the business of travel for the UK consumer.” “We are thrilled to have got this far and would love our customers to vote.... Read More →
Trade Events
Industry gets behind World Travel Market World Responsible Tourism Day
August 12, 2010
(Forimmediaterelease.net) More companies than ever before have applied to participate in World Travel Market (WTM) World Responsible Tourism Day (WRTD) – the only global campaign, in association with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), to inspire and educate the industry to actively help save the planet. More than one hundred large and small travel and tourism companies have already applied to use the official 2010 WTM WRTD logo ahead of the actual day on Wednesday, November10. The applications are currently being studied to ensure that they meet WTM World Responsible Tourism Day’s strict criteria. Once approved, successful applicants can use the official WTM WRTD logo for this year on its sales, marketing, letterhead, direct mail, and PR materials, as well as enjoy considerable business, publicity, and profiling benefits. Regardless of whether they are able to attend the occasion at World Travel Market in London, many plan to mark the day in their own... Read More →
Member Press ReleasesGeographic Travel Club provides new product: Heli-skiing in Armenia, Georgia, Turkey and Iran
July 31, 2010
Winter 2010/2011 Armenian leading adventure tour operator Geographic Travel Club will offer a new product for experienced backcountry skiers who aim to explore new slopes – Heli-skiing in Armenia – as the result of many requests from partners, after they visited Armenia for Ski-touring. Armenia has large mountain ranges with hundreds of summits between 3,000-4,000 meters and in the wintertime the snow cover on the mountain slopes is great. According to the company’s vision after the upcoming winter season, Armenia is going to be quite competitive with the neighbors who do Heli-skiing in Georgia, Turkey and Iran. The programs will be organized on the highest mountains of Armenia like Mt. Aragats (4100m), Geghama mountain range with its highest peak Azhdahak (3597m) and Mt Ishkhanasar (3550m). Options will include Heli-skiing and Ski-touring on the different mountains. The best period for the program is from February 10 to March 15, but it also may be recommended from Jan 1 to March... Read More →
ATTA Member Profiles
PURAVERA S.L.
July 29, 2010
PURAVERA‘s mission focuses on the Sustainable Development of the Region of Comarca de la Vera (Caceres-Spain), mainly through the promotion of responsible rural tourism projects and local business support to increase employment in the area. The ultimate goal is to position the region of La Vera as a Responsible Rural Tourism destination. The region of Comarca de la Vera is known as the imperial retreat, as Charles V (The Emperor) retired in the area, surely for a good reason. It has very diverse and rich natural scenery, with 47 natural creeks, various rivers, forest of chestnuts, oaks, pines, cork oaks, varied avifauna (borders with the National Park of Monfragüe) and many cultural and historical settlements declared of national historical interest. When you travel the region you see all the remains of the different civilizations that have established in the area. (Roman bridges, Templar castles, Neolithic caves, Gothic Cathedrals, among many others). The company’s activity... Read More →
Partner News Spotlight: DestinationsScotland Week (April 3-10) Steps Up Adventure Tourism Visibility Ahead of the 2010 Adventure Travel World Summit
March 15, 2010
If you’ve not heard of Scotland Week, then possibly you know of Tartan Day? It’s April 6th each year – marking Scotland’s Declaration of Independence in 1307. And, since 1998, Tartan Day has been recognized by the U.S. Senate as an official celebration of the contribution of American-Scots to U.S. culture and life. Over the past 10 years we’ve seen Scotland-focused activity around Tartan Day grow into a week-long program to promote Scotland in North America. Ahead of this year’s Adventure Travel World Summit slated for October 4-7, increased promotional activity between the U.S., Scotland and the ATTA is helping to draw attention to a destination that is staking its claim to adventure tourism. Week of March 15th – Adventure Tourism Stakeholders Workshop For the week of March 15-19, the ATTA’s President Shannon Stowell is visiting the site of the 2010 Adventure Travel World Summit (ATWS) in Aviemore, Scotland, to address a broad cross-section of tourism stakeholders... Read More →
By the NumbersTravel Shows Signs of Muted Growth
January 26, 2010
Brussels — The European Travel Commission has just published its fourth quarterly report on European Tourism 2009 – Trends & Prospects. Travel demand trends in the last three months of 2009 confirmed that the recovery was underway, although the growth was in large part due to comparisons with the low levels in late 2008. And the improvement, which benefited Europe less than most other regions of the world, came too late to make much difference to the final full-year results. In summary, for the travel and tourism industry, 2009 was undoubtedly a year to forget. The outlook for growth in 2010 is more positive that it was three month ago – with more ‘risk’ to the upside. Europe’s tourism performance in the first half of 2010 will of course be aided by comparison with the depths of the recession in 2009. However, some significant downside risks remain, including security concerns and the possibility (although now deemed less likely) of a more virulent A(H1N1) pandemic. Tourism... Read More →
By the NumbersGermany’s Online Travel Market Gains Significant Ground
January 22, 2010
Sherman, Conn. USA — In a year when global travel markets struggled under the weight of recession, Germany’s online travel market held up to the pressure. Travel industry research authority, PhoCusWright Inc., reveals that the online travel market in Germany grew by 10.4% in 2009 even while overall revenues declined in its recent publication, PhoCusWright’s German Online Travel Overview Fifth Edition. Online travel agencies (OTAs) have a recognizable competitive advantage in this strained economy because they enable consumers to find affordable options and build their own dynamic packages. As dynamic packaging drives growth—and demand for customized holidays remains high—German OTAs will continue to benefit. The German travel market underwent a less severe fall in demand in comparison to other major European markets in 2009. Online channels experienced a countercyclical lift that we often see in markets that are soft, but not suffering major declines. Currency exchange rates... Read More →
Member Press Releases New & DifferentDiscover France Adventures Becomes One of only Four Officially Licensed Tour Operators for the Tour de France
January 14, 2010
Scottsdale, AZ—Discover France Adventures, an award winning specialist in journeys to France, recently announced that it is one of only four tour operators worldwide that are officially licensed to sell Tour de France tours in 2010. As officially licensed tour operators for the Tour de France, Discover France Adventures will offer trips that provide cycling enthusiasts with exclusive and elite access to all major Tour de France events. Guests on Discover France’s VIP Tour de France itineraries will be granted access to the Tour Village before the start of each day’s stage as well as special access to the team and press areas after each stage finishes. This access is usually only reserved for race officials, pro athletes and other VIP’s, but Discover France’s guests will be able to mix and mingle with the pros. In addition, VIP guests will have the opportunity to cycle our along the route of the Tour on the same day as the pro stage and just ahead of the pro riders themselves. ... Read More →
By the NumbersFive Online Travel Predictions for Europe in 2010
December 22, 2009
Sherman, Conn. USA — Europe may still be experiencing the effects of the recession, but online travel continues its upward march across the continent’s diverse and complex markets, according to travel industry research authority, PhoCusWright Inc. Changes in the economy and the travel industry have driven significant shifts in how consumers shop for and purchase travel. PhoCusWright’s European Online Travel Overview Fifth Edition analyzes the dynamics of online and offline travel distribution across Europe’s major travel markets. Here are five predictions for the European online travel market in 2010 from the new report: 1. Online travel will account for more than one-third of the total European travel market. While the total European travel market experiences a double-digit decline, online leisure and unmanaged business travel will in fact grow slightly in 2009. As effects of the recession linger into next year, consumers are increasingly shopping online for better... Read More →
