Related Research Articles
Tourism is travel for pleasure, and the commercial activity of providing and supporting such travel. UN Tourism defines tourism more generally, in terms which go "beyond the common perception of tourism as being limited to holiday activity only", as people "travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure and not less than 24 hours, business and other purposes". Tourism can be domestic or international, and international tourism has both incoming and outgoing implications on a country's balance of payments.
Adventure travel is a type of tourism, involving exploration or travel with a certain degree of risk, and which may require special skills and physical exertion. In the United States, adventure tourism has grown in recent decades as tourists seek out-of-the-ordinary or "roads less traveled" vacations, but lack of a clear operational definition has hampered measurement of market size and growth. According to the U.S.-based Adventure Travel Trade Association, adventure travel may be any tourist activity that includes physical activity, a cultural exchange, and connection with outdoor activities and nature.
Sustainable tourism is a concept that covers the complete tourism experience, including concern for economic, social, and environmental issues as well as attention to improving tourists' experiences and addressing the needs of host communities. Sustainable tourism should embrace concerns for environmental protection, social equity, and the quality of life, cultural diversity, and a dynamic, viable economy delivering jobs and prosperity for all. It has its roots in sustainable development and there can be some confusion as to what "sustainable tourism" means. There is now broad consensus that tourism should be sustainable. In fact, all forms of tourism have the potential to be sustainable if planned, developed and managed properly. Tourist development organizations are promoting sustainable tourism practices in order to mitigate negative effects caused by the growing impact of tourism, for example its environmental impacts.
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is a forum for the travel and tourism industry. It is made up of members from the global business community and works with governments to raise awareness about the travel and tourism industry. It is known for being the only forum to represent the private sector in all parts of the industry worldwide. Its activities include research on the economic and social impact of the industry and its organisation of global and regional summits focused on issues and developments relevant to the industry.
Kuoni Travel is a tourism company, operating various services including charter and scheduled passenger airlines, package holidays, cruise lines, and hotels in destinations around the world across nine different geographic regions.
Virgin Holidays Limited, trading as Virgin Atlantic Holidays, is a company within the Virgin Group that offers holidays worldwide with destinations including the US and Canada, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, the Indian Ocean and the Far East. In addition, the company has an established ski program and a specialist cruise division called "Virgin Holidays Cruises". The company was formed in 1985, a year after the successful launch of Virgin Atlantic in June 1984. Initially selling seats on Virgin Atlantic routes to New York City, Miami and Orlando the company has grown to become one of the largest and most successful long-haul scheduled tour operators in the UK.
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is a membership association working to promote the responsible development of travel and tourism in the Asia Pacific region.
Intrepid Travel is a small group adventure travel company. The company offers more than 1,100 escorted tours worldwide with an average of 10 travellers per tour. Intrepid is a B Corporation, certified to meet the standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. Intrepid Foundation has raised more than A$12 million to support communities where it travels.
Wilderness Scotland is a tour operator specialising in active and nature based travel throughout Scotland, Ireland and North of England.
Quark Expeditions is a travel company that offers polar region expeditions aboard expedition ships and icebreakers.
The Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO), operating as AITO – The Specialist Travel Association, is a British-based travel industry trade group established in 1976 that represents around 120 specialist and independent tour operators. Members of AITO operate in over 170 countries including the UK, with activities spanning a range of interests including adventure, city break, culture, fly drive, luxury, safaris and sports.
Responsible tourism is a relatively modern concept in the Kingdom of Thailand that took root in the late-1990s. It is underpinned by the belief that tourism should develop in a manner that minimizes negative impacts on local communities, and wherever possible ensure that a positive symbiosis exists between hosts and visitors. Responsible travel promotes a respect for indigenous culture, the minimization of the negative environmental impacts of tourism, active participation in volunteering to assist local communities, and the structuring of businesses to benefit the final service provider rather than an international agent.
Tauck is an operator of guided tours and cruises based in Wilton, Connecticut. Founded in 1925, the company offers guided land journeys, small-ship ocean cruises, European river cruises, safaris, and family travel experiences. These tours take place in 70 countries and on all seven continents.
Mandip Singh Soin is a prominent Indian mountaineer, explorer, adventure travel expert, environmentalist, speaker and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. He has spent over forty years in the field of adventure, having gone on expeditions to all the seven continents of the world. His mountaineering ascents and explorations include several Indian “firsts” like the first Indian ascent of Mount Meru in 1986 in the Himalayas as well as several first Indian ascents in the French and Swiss Alps, Italian Dolomites, Wales and Scotland. He is a strong advocate of responsible tourism and the Founder President of the Ecotourism Society of India.
Australian Pacific Touring (APT) is an Australian tour and river cruising operator with worldwide reach.
Bruce Poon Tip is a Canadian businessman and the founder of G Adventures, an adventure-travel company. He is an author of the book Looptail: How One Company Changed the World by Reinventing Business.
National Geographic Partners, LLC is a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the namesake non-profit scientific organization National Geographic Society. The company oversees all commercial activities related to the Society, including magazine publications and television channels. The company's board of managers is evenly divided between the Society and Disney.
Audley Travel is a tour operator based in the UK in Witney, Oxfordshire, with offices in London and Boston. The company covers over 90 destinations worldwide, providing tailor-made travel. According to the Financial Times, Audley is the largest operator in this market.
World Expeditions is an adventure travel and ecotourism company that offers trekking and adventure holidays.
Lindblad Expeditions is an expedition travel company headquartered in New York, NY. The company currently offers expedition cruises to destinations on all seven continents aboard 15 ships with capacities ranging from 28 to 150 guests.
References
- ↑ Kaye, Leon (May 11, 2018). "How a Travel Company Became a Global Sustainable Supply Chain Leader". Triple Pundit.
- 1 2 Gardner, Terry (January 25, 2016). "National Geographic and G Adventures partner to keep experiences high, prices low" . Los Angeles Times .
- ↑ Nikulin, Daniel (September 30, 2015). "National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures". Flight Centre .
- ↑ THE GAP, INC. v. G.A.P. ADVENTURES INC, 07Civ9614 (AKH) , 11(United States District Court, S.D. New York.Jun. 24, 2011)(""Anita Voth and Bruce Poon Tip co-founded G.A.P Adventures in 1990. Voth and Poon Tip had met while working at the Toronto office of Worldwide Adventures, an Australian luxury travel tour operator"").
- ↑ Baran, Michelle (September 28, 2011). "Gap Adventures changes name to G Adventures". Travel Weekly.
- ↑ Dennis, Juliet (January 18, 2017). "Travelsphere and Just You to court trade under new ownership". Travel Weekly.
- ↑ Limone, Jerry (June 4, 2019). "G Adventures expands U.S. presence with Boston headquarters". Travel Weekly.
- ↑ Clausing, Jeri (June 25, 2019). "G Adventures' Bruce Poon Tip on sustainable tourism". Travel Weekly.
- ↑ "Edison Awards™ - Honoring the Best in Innovation and Innovators". Edison Awards.
- ↑ "G ADVENTURES ANNOUNCES $1 MILLION PARTNERSHIP WITH INTER-AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK ON SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY-BASED TOURISM PROGRAM" (Press release). G Adventures. 25 February 2013.
- ↑ "G Adventures partners with The Jane Goodall Institute to offer new wildlife trips". Travelweek. September 28, 2016.
