The Greening Of Adventure
Traveller concerns with the effects of over-tourism, plus the desire to travel sustainably, have become major pillars of considerations for adventure vacations in 2019, says a leading adventure travel specialist based in Sydney, Australia.
Concern about over-tourism is convincing adventure travellers to avoid heavily populated travel hotspots and seek out alternatives in lesser-known destinations, says World Expeditions. These people are aspiring to escape the frenetic pace of modern lifestyles and seeking to maximize a positive impact on the destinations that they visit.
Publicity about over-tourism is encouraging some travellers to look beyond replicating what they see on social media about the trips that their friends are undertaking, says the company.
As a result, World Expeditions is reporting a significant increase in enquiries for the company’s range of exploratory expeditions in remote regions, as well as alternative treks in better-known destinations.
“We’ve been longtime advocates for the ‘off-the-beaten-track’ style of travel and we’re well-positioned to cater for this trend,” says World Expeditions CEO Sue Badyari. “We’re finding that more confident travellers are less interested in replicating the travel experiences of others, and more interested in seeking out lesser-visited destinations and trails.”
That goes hand-in-hand with a growing demand for slower, greener travel options. For instance, a multi-day trek or a cycling journey allows travellers to switch off and immerse themselves in the natural landscape, and to focus on discovery, cultural immersion and personal achievement, says the company.
A desire to vacation with sustainability in mind is another priority for many travellers. World Expeditions offers initiatives like the “10 Pieces” litter collection program, Child Safe Tourism program and Animal Welfare Code of Conduct. These all give travellers the ability to make stronger commitments to minimizing negative impacts and maximizing positive ones.
“Sustainability sits at the core of World Expeditions’ adventure itineraries,” says Badyari. “We have recently expanded our ’10 Pieces’ litter collection initiative in all our treks in Nepal and at litter ‘hotspots’ on mountain trails in Bhutan and Peru as well as our Mount Rinjani and Mount Kilimanjaro summit treks.”
Go to www.worldexpeditions.com for more.
PHOTO Caption
Trekking in the Annapurna range of the Himalayas is a popular option for adventure vacations.
