January 13, 2009 (Santa Fe) - Off the Radar (www.travelofftheradar.com), an adventure travel newsletter since 2005, announces the launch of its new adventure travel information website today. The online resource and monthly newsletter provide adventure enthusiasts with information about unusual, less-traveled destinations and many independent, owner-operated tour companies serving them. Every destination and tour operator mentioned in Off the Radar has been personally experienced by its team of writers and editors or recommended by a trusted associate who shares a similar passion for "responsible" travel.
According to the National Leisure Travel Monitor, 66% of travelers used the Internet to plan a vacation in 2007, a significant increase from the year 2000, when only 35% conducted their travel research online.
"Many adventure travelers are looking further than what their travel agents or traditional package tours provide and also researching and plan their own trips online," said Christina Heyniger, creator of Off the Radar. "Off the Radar provides a trusted source of information about authentic experiences about destinations off the beaten tourist path, information that may not be readily available elsewhere."
For example, this month's edition suggests horseback riding in Salta, Argentina, sea-kayaking in the Møre og Romsdal region of Norway, and canoeing through the limestone canyons of the Tsiribihina River in Madagascar.
Not only are unusual destinations and activities profiled, but Off the Radar also provides contact information for locally owned and operated tour companies delivering memorable experiences. Off the Radar maintains high editorial standards of unbiased reporting - companies do not pay to be featured and all recommendations are based on merit.
Beyond feature stories and reader-submitted adventure travel suggestions, Off the Radar provides news bulletins about industry trends and events relevant to the operators and destinations featured on the site. Readers can visit the Store to browse and purchase music and books recommended by the Off the Radar editorial team. Staff experts will respond to adventure travel questions posted to the "Ask" section. A Visual Blog of reader-submitted photos from around the world completes the website's new features.
Visit www.travelofftheradar.com to explore the website and its content and to subscribe to receive monthly newsletters. Freelance editorial submissions and general inquiries about Off the Radar may be directed to [email protected]. Advertising inquiries may be directed to [email protected] .
About Xola Consulting
Off the Radar's parent company, Xola Consulting, Inc. (www.xolaconsulting.com) is a consulting and research services firm assisting tour operators, tourism boards and non-profit organizations with sustainable adventure tourism destination and product development, marketing and research.
###