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Adventure TourismAdventuretourism.wordpress.com

Adventure Tourism

What is it?Who does it?

Definition:

• Tourism that combines physical activity, cultural exchange or interaction and an engagement with nature

Adventure Tourism

• creates some excitement by stepping out of your comfort zone

• requires significant physical or mental effort

• may involve some kind of risk, be it real or perceived

• expectations vary depending on participants level of experience

• may have an element of physical danger

Mountaineering trekking walking bungee jumping rockclimbing white water rafting kayaking canoeing fishing jungle visit safaris hang gliding paragliding mountain biking road cycling bird or animal watching skiing snowboarding ski mountaineering scuba diving snorkelling wind surfing surfing caving cooking staying on a sheep farm…

The list goes on and on and on…

Activities are linked to places

• Wanaka and Queenstown are synonymous with skiing

• Milford Track is synonymous with walking

• Otago Peninsula is synonymous with wild life observing

• Himalaya - trekking

Adventure Tourism can be broken down into two

parts

1.Soft Adventure

2.Hard Adventure

Soft Adventure

• A travel experience that goes beyond the typical tourist itinerary

• Is rewarding for the spirit and the mind

• Is safe and without excessive physical demands

Examples of soft adventure:

• Camping

• Walking on gradually changing terrain

• Biking

Check out the following websites:• www.advsouth.co.nz• www.flyingkiwi.com – watch the you

tube clip• www.countrywalkers.com – look at the

destination slide shows• www.puretrailsnewzealand.co.nz• www.wildernesslodge.co.nz

Who do you think are the target audiences?

Hard Adventure

• is a travel experience the has more physical challenge

• has a higher element of risk

• is rewarding to the spirit • pushes people outside of the comfort

zone

Examples of hard adventure:

• Mountaineering

• White water rafting/kayaking

• Mountain biking

Check out the following websites:• www.adventureconsultants.co.nz• www.mountainmadness.com• www.exum.com• www.gravitybolivia.com – look at the slide

show of “The Worlds most dangerous road”• www.riversurfing.co.nz – watch the you

tube clip on the website

Who do you think are the target audiences?

Hard adventure appeals to a more specific

audience

Why??

• Level of physical fitness required is higher

• Physical output required is higher

• Pushed outside their comfort zone

• Tours may vary in length• The adrenalin flows fast!• Often expensive and requires

technical equipment

Soft adventure is the most popular form of

adventure tourism

Why??

• Wide range of people • Easily done by first timers• Less physical output required• Pushed slightly beyond their

comfort zone• Variety of budgets• Risks are generally lower• Easily adapted for the audience • Shorter time spans• Tours usually includes a cultural

component

In Summary…

• Adventure tourism means different things to different people

• Activity can vary depending on experience

• Adventure tourism is a fast growing area of tourism