First ISO Adventure Tourism Working Group Meeting Set for October 23, Adjacent to 2009 Adventure Travel World Summit in Québec, Canada
Summit Gains Traction as Organizers Schedule Around ATTA’s Annual Conference
(SEATTLE) – Led by two authoritative standards organizations – Brazil’s Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas (ABNT) and the United Kingdom’s BSI, endorsed by the global Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), and backed by a 27-country ISO vote, the newly formed ISO Adventure Tourism Working Group (ISO TC 228) has scheduled its first meeting adjacent to the 2009 Adventure Travel World Summit October 19-22 in Charlevoix, Québec, Canada.
The ISO group’s October 23rd meeting coincides with other specialized tourism entities that are scheduling meetings and events throughout the ATTA’s annual fall Summit. For 2009, The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), VAST (Virtuoso Active & Specialty Travel), ABETA – the Adventure and Ecotourism Association of Brazil, and Trusted Adventures, a collection of U.S.-based tour operators, each will collaborate with the ATTA in assembling co-located meetings and activities. Increasingly, the ATTA is fielding special requests for Summit adjacency meetings so that complementary organizations may take advantage of the annual assembly of hundreds of adventure tourism industry professionals.
Created as a forum to discuss and establish standards to key issues that affect tourism industry competitiveness and development in the long term, the ISO TC 228, together with the Brazilian and U.K. standards organizations, invite delegates and experts from all over the world to contribute to this meeting. It is the first time that “Adventure Tourism” is being recognized by the ISO (International Organization for Standardization – www.iso.org), the world’s largest developer and publisher of International Standards.
Global standardization in the field of adventure tourism is designed to promote good practices and improve the quality, safety and services within the adventure tourism sector. In recent years, many different countries have developed various initiatives to organize and develop standards for adventure tourism. The very existence of the multiplicity of solutions in the global market led to broad industry support for the pursuit of consensus-based International Standards.
Proposed by the national standards bodies (NSBs) of Brazil and the United Kingdom (ABNT & BSI), the new Working Group on Adventure Tourism will focus on developing working plans that lead to three new areas of International Standards including:
- Safety management requirements (including a glossary of terms),
- Leader/guide competence/cies, and
- Minimum information provided to clients.
In addition to Summit delegates, countries forming the TC228 will invite their respective experts and delegates to the inaugural meeting. The overall approach proposed for this new standard has the potential to lead to improved coordination and enhancement of the application of standards for specific activities in each country through the provision of a common, fundamental approach to risk assessment and management. Lead NSBs include: ABNT – the Brazilian Standardization Body, responsible for the development of the Brazilian national standards and responsible for represent Brazil at the international level in regional and global standardization discussions; and BSI – a U.K.-based global independent business services organization providing standard-based solutions in more than 120 countries.
To align expectations from all participants, the ISO TC 228 is beginning to establish the meeting agenda with all the stakeholders For more information about the ISO TC 228 Adventure Tourism Working Group meeting, contact Janaina Zonzin, ABETA Public Relations Coordinator, 55 31 3261 5707, janaina@abeta.com.br.
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About the International Organization for Standardization (ISO): ISO, the world’s largest developer and publisher of International Standards, is a network of the national standards institutes of 162 countries, one member per country, with a Central Secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland, that coordinates the system. ISO is a non-governmental organization that forms a bridge between the public and private sectors. On the one hand, many of its member institutes are part of the governmental structure of their countries, or are mandated by their government. On the other hand, other members have their roots uniquely in the private sector, having been set up by national partnerships of industry associations. Therefore, ISO enables a consensus to be reached on solutions that meet both the requirements of business and the broader needs of society.
About the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA): Established in 1990, the ATTA (www.adventuretravel.biz) is a global membership organization dedicated to unifying, networking, professionalizing, promoting and responsibly growing the adventure travel market. ATTA members include tour operators, destination marketing organizations, tourism boards, specialty travel agents, guides, accommodations, media and service providers. Host of the annual Adventure Travel World Summit executive trade conferences, the ATTA also makes possible www.Adventure.Travel, the traveler’s hub of physical, cultural and nature-based adventure travel and guide to trusted tour operators from around the globe.
Partners ATTA & AIA Release First Version of “Guide to Best Practices for Archaeological Tourism”
Tourism Industry Feedback Sought, Deadline for Comment July 15, 2009
(June 18, 2009) — Archaeological sites and historic places are major tourist attractions worldwide. In the last few years, visits to historical sites have ranked third—after dining in restaurants and shopping—among activities undertaken by Americans traveling abroad. The number of people that visit archaeological sites rises every year and this increase can have significant negative impacts on archaeological sites. In many instances, increased visits have led to damage at sites and often portions of sites have to be cordoned off from the public to prevent further deterioration. In extreme cases, sites have been closed to the public.
The popularity of archaeological sites as tourist attractions makes them valuable sources of revenue, but unfortunately economic exploitation of sites is often not matched by reinvestment in proper site management to ensure both protection of the site and its continued enjoyment by visitors. Archaeological sites are fragile resources and inadequate site management will result in deterioration or even destruction of the site and its related social, historical, educational, and economic potential.
With these concerns in mind the ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE of AMERICA (AIA), ARCHAEOLOGY magazine (ATTA Contributing Sponsor), and the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) created this manual of good practices for anyone interested in visiting archaeological sites. The guide outlines practices that allow for proper, sustainable archaeological tourism, giving visitors the opportunity to fully experience ancient sites while minimizing any negative impact. The guide is an important resource for tour operators who wish to incorporate archaeological sites in their tour packages, for tour guides who lead people through the sites, for tourists who want to see these sites first hand, and for site managers charged with the maintenance and protection of sites. In conjunction with adequate and properly funded site management plans, these guidelines will help ensure that the public enjoy the experience of visiting ancient places for generations to come.
Tourism industry professionals are encouraged to download and review the first release of these guidelines, and to forward feedback directly to editor@adventuretravel.biz by July 15, 2009. Feedback is requested on the overall content, structure and actual recommendations. Please email key suggestions. You may also use the “Track Changes” function as appropriate for general comment and specific recommendations and/or considerations you suggest the AIA & ATTA consider. Feedback will be evaluated and considered for guideline improvements.
The Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) is North America’s oldest and largest organization devoted to the world of archaeology with nearly 250,000 members and subscribers belonging to more than 100 local AIA societies in the United States, Canada, and overseas, united by a shared passion for archaeology and its role in furthering human knowledge.
