(SEATTLE) – June 5, 2009 – Productive peer-to-peer networking and community collaboration continue to serve as the driving force behind increased participation in the Adventure Travel Trade Association’s (ATTA) Association Partnership Program, which today announced the addition of six new members, which expands the group regionally and by specific areas of expertise.
With the addition of continental representation from Europe, the ATTA’s total Association Partner (AP) network has risen to 24 associations on six continents. The newly added associations include:
• France - French Ecotourism Association
• Japan – Japan Ecolodge Association
• Jordan - Jordan Inbound Tour Operators Association (JITOA)
• Scotland - Wild Scotland (WS)
• Sweden – The Swedish Ecotourism Society/Nature’s Best
• United States - The Dude Ranchers' Association
Increased destination trade missions and participation in industry events by the ATTA has directly contributed to program growth. For example, recent exploratory missions by the ATTA and its strategic partners have yielded participation from Scotland, Sweden and its first Middle East AP with the addition of JITOA.
“We see the ATTA as the best international partner for JITOA and for our members in developing the adventure tourism niche in Jordan to meet international standards and to pursue and achieve best practices,” said Nizar Al Adarbeh, Executive Director of the JITOA. “Our association with the ATTA will help us to improve our operations, sales, professionalism and visibility and to market Jordan globally as a unique and competitive adventure travel destination. We have already established new and strategic business linkages through the network ATTA offers for its members and partners.”
Combined, the ATTA’s AP program represents thousands of tour operators, accommodations and other travel companies. The ATTA launched the AP program in 2007 to better network and improve cooperation within the specialized sector. The AP also improves intelligence gathering and sharing among destinations and specialty niches of the industry, as well as on critical matters such as sustainable tourism, best practices, trends and research, marketing, risk management and matters essential to raising the quality and professionalism of the industry.
“Our Association Partnership program, along with similar alliances we’ve created with media outlets, travel agent organizations, the outdoor industry and strategic partners invested in a sustainable future, is helping to fulfill the ATTA’s mission,” said ATTA President Shannon Stowell. “And, connecting people within our industry and encouraging partnerships that make a difference is central to that mission.” Beyond the ATTA’s annual Adventure Travel World Summit events, it has invested in ‘The HUB,’ an online community for ATTA Members and Association Partners, which provides a more practical business-to-business platform for year-round connectivity.
In addition to the newly added associations, active members of the Association Partnership program include (listed by continent):
Africa
• Africa - Association for the Promotion of Tourism to Africa (APTA)
Asia
• Bhutan - Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators
• India - Indian Rafting Federation
• Nepal - Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA)
• Thailand - Thai Ecotourism & Adventure Travel Association (TEATA)
North America
• Canada:
o Aventure Ecotourisme Quebec (AEQ)
o Paddling Ontario Alliance (POA)
o Wilderness Tourism Association of the Yukon (WTAY)
• Mexico - Asociación Mexicana de Turismo de Aventura y Ecoturismo (AMTAVE), Mexican Association of Adventure Tourism and Ecotourism
South America
• Argentina - Asociación Argentina de Ecoturismo y Turismo Aventura (AAETAV)
• Brazil - Associação Brasileira das Empresas de Turismo de Aventura (ABETA), Brazilian Adventure Travel Trade Association
• Chile - Corporación de Promoción Turistica (CPT), Tourism Promotion Corporation of Chile
• Dominican Republic - Organización Dominicana de Turismo Sostenible (ODTS)
• Ecuador - Ecuadorian Ecotourism Association (ASEC)
• Guyana - Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG)
• Peru - La Asociación Peruana de Turismo de Aventura y Ecoturismo (APTAE), Peruvian Association of Ecotourism and Adventure Tourism
• Trinidad and Tobago - Trinidad and Tobago Incoming Tour Operators Association (TTITOA)
Oceania
• New Zealand - Tourism Industry Association New Zealand
Established in 1990, the Seattle-based 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 (www.adventuretravelworldsummit.com), 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.
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ATTA AP Program Contact:
For information on association partnership opportunities, contact ATTA Vice President of Business Development Chris Chesak at [email protected].