Altruistic active vacations, climatically acceptable expeditions and ancestor travel instead of a buffet buffet on a cruise ship – the main thing is to create unforgettable memories.
According to industry experts, the trend in tourism is moving away from conventional vacations, from sunbathing on the beach, from staying in closed tourist settlements, from buffet tables on cruise ships. More and more tourists are looking for adventure, and the term ‘adventure’ is broadly defined, as recent observations from the US show. The range is from active holiday with lots of sports to active environmental or development assistance.
‘People are increasingly looking for authentic, unique experiences on their journeys that expand their horizons and create memories that last a lifetime,’ says Chris Doyle, vice president of the Adventure Travel Association (ATTA) in Seattle. According to ATTA, adventure travel is the fastest growing segment in tourism. As US trends often spread to Europe, here are some examples:
Women on the road
More and more often, women between the ages of 41 and 60 travel alone, without husbands. According to Atta’s observations, more than half of all adventure travelers in 2006 belonged to this group. ‘We always thought that active vacation was something for people in their twenties,’ says the founder of the women’s online travel service. ‘But now it’s no longer unusual to see women in their 50s or 60s doing kayaking, hiking or surfing.’
Altruistic rest
Volunteer development assistance seems to be gaining popularity, at least in the US. The Global Volunteers Organization in St. Paul, Minnesota, saw a 30 percent increase in participants last year, according to co-founder Michele Gran. Most of these volunteers are members of the 1968 generation, known in the US as ‘Baby Boomers’. However, as the number of people under the age of 20 grows, Baby Boomer children seem to be increasingly participating as well.
Research instead of lying down
Environmental research expeditions are attracting increasing interest, as reported by the Global Earthwatch Institute. This includes exploration of coral reefs in the Bahamas, observation of sea turtles laying eggs, exploration of glaciers and monitoring of whale migration in different parts of the world.Climate protection cruise
A special type of cruise for adventure travelers are expeditions that do not lead to sunny Caribbean or around the Mediterranean, but to destinations such as Antarctica, Galapagos or Alaska. These trips on boats of different sizes are intended for active tourists, as well as nature lovers and ecologists. Lectures and presentations about destinations are held during the cruise. ‘Expeditionary cruises focus on what can be seen from the ship,’ says Carolyn Spencer Brown.
Simulated air combat
These holiday promotions are probably more intended for ‘hard guys’: participants can, for example, finish training grounds with obstacles such as those developed for training military special forces, practice skydiving, driving racing cars, taking extreme hiking routes or flying military jets or propeller planes in simulated air combat.
Soft adventures
And the complete opposite is also part of a diverse offer: mild adventure vacations, for example, combine yoga with surfing or snowboarding. Culinary trips through Asia fall into this category, as well as a tour of wine-growing regions with appropriate tastings.
Trace of origin
A small company based in California could be especially fascinating for people from the ‘new world’: adventure lies in search of its own roots. The company creates a DNA analysis and family tree. Genetic analysis and comparison with research data can supposedly trace one’s origins thousands of years back. The company cooperates with tourism operators who compile custom tours to the place of origin of one’s ancestors, whether it is Africa, Europe or Israel.
Cover photo: Donald Trung, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
