Social Investing and the Adventure Tourism Opportunity
You might hear “adventure tourism,” and think of mountain climbing, whitewater rafting, or trekking. When we hear “adventure tourism,” we think of all that, too, but we also see tremendous opportunity for rural economic and environmental development. We think that for social investors, the adventure tourism niche is worth a look.
Here we’ll describe why adventure tourism businesses offer an opportunity for social investors and provide some suggestions on how to move investing in the sector forward.
Filed Under Adventure Tourism and Social/Environmental Issues, Rural Communities | 1 Comment
Adventure Travel Companies in Geotourism Competition
I was recently invited to the group of “official commentators,” for the “Geotourism Challenge 2009″, sponsored by Changemakers.net and National Geographic. Kathy Dragon, another representative from the world of adventure travel, is also among the group of commentators.
Scanning the entries I was thrilled to see familiar faces from our adventure community - PEPY and SEE Turtles for example, as well as numerous other adventure operators mixing adventure with projects to address social and conservation issues. I think it’s terrific that the adventure community is being recognized and incorporated with mission-focused businesses, and that the “adventure” brand is expanding. At Xola we recently put a new page up on our website: Adventure Travel Saves the World to build further awareness for concept with our government and tour operator clients.
To learn more about Ashoka and their other initiatives in the area of social innovation, including additional competitions such as Champions of Quality Education in Africa; Cultivating Innovation: Solutions for Rural Communities; and Desinging for Better Health visit Changemakers.net website.
Filed Under Adventure Tourism and Social/Environmental Issues, Rural Communities | Leave a Comment
Out of the Wilderness
We decided to run this article just so we could disagree with it…see our comments at the end!
People are shunning the great outdoors. Blame conservationists, not video games
Jul 10th 2008 | YOSEMITE VILLAGE
From The Economist print edition
ON JULY 4th, normally the busiest public holiday of the year, tourists were put off by high petrol prices and more than 300 wildfires raging across California. On Memorial Day, traditionally the beginning of the summer season, it was cold. In 1999 there was a grisly murder. In 1997 the Merced river flooded, inundating a hotel and wiping out hundreds of campsites. There are always excuses for the absence of people in Yosemite National Park.
The number of visitors to California’s most spectacular valley has dropped for nine out of the past 13 years, and seems to be heading down again this year. Even in 2007—a relatively busy year—attendance was 11% below the mid-1990s peak. In America as a whole the number of visitors to national parks and historic sites peaked in 1987. Visitors are staying for less time and camping less often, especially in the wilderness. And rangers are hearing less American-accented English. Were it not for British and German tourists enjoying the weak dollar, the parks would be desolate.
Read more
Filed Under Industry Research, Product Development | 1 Comment
Off the Radar
Visit us at travelofftheradar.com for the complete archive of past editions as well as beautiful photos, travel writing and video from our adventuring readers.