DO MINH THU

ADVENTURE TOURISM

Report question: Outline the main types of adventure tourism. What are
the management risks and benefits attached to them?

The global tourism industry is witnessing a rapid growth in both

volume and depth, and coming with it is the growing demand for newer
forms or segments of tourism. Some examples of this new trend can be
either educational tourism, dark tourism or adventure tourism. Being
described as the future of tourism (Thornton, 2005), adventure tourism is
currently one of the leading segment on global tourism industry, valued at
over US $1 trillion (Buckley 2010). This paper will discuss the major types
found in adventure tourism, and take a closer look at the risks and benefits
that can be lost or gained from its activities.
1. What is adventure tourism?
Hall (1992: 143) considers adventure tourism as a broad spectrum of
outdoor touristic activities, often commercialized and involving an
interaction with the natural environment away from the participants home
range and containing elements of risk. Another acceptable definition of
adventure tourism is Recreational travel undertaken to remote or exotic
destinations for the purpose of exploration or engaging in a variety of
rugged activities. (Travel Industry Dictionary). However, as the distinctions
between nature tourism, ecotourism, adventure tourism, adventure travel,
commercial expeditions, outdoor recreation and outdoor education are
blurred (Buckley, 2002), it is hard to find an exact definition. As this part of
tourism industry is constantly growing out of its original shape, the way to
define it also evolves.
Adventure tourists are people who are engaged in commercialized
adventure tours, mostly conducted in outdoor setting, which might require
some physical activities and special equipment (Buckley, 2006). The
common destinations for adventure tours are protected areas, natural,
adventurous and quite often remote sites. The most expected product of
adventure tourism comes in form of experience and the adrenaline rush
that many tourists want to achieve through risky activities.
2. Types of adventure tourism:
It is not an easy task to divide adventure tourism into sectors. If
someone tries to list down the major and most signature forms of adventure
tourism, they will have a long list consisting of hiking, trekking, climbing,
sea-kayaking, black and white water kayaking, mountain biking, skydiving,
surfing, diving and snorkeling, parasailing and many other similar activities.
If the factors of skills required prior to the trip is considered, tourists going
for activities like kayaking or skiing are better off with some acquired

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experience while for national park visit, wildlife sightseeing and similar
activities, tourists can appear at the gate completely unprepared.
Cloke & Perkins (1998) mentioned about a distinction between
different subcategories of adventure tourism. These three categories can be
defined along the continuum of risk, from lowest to highest ((McKay,
2013). The first category, specified as soft adventure tourism, highlights
the safety level for tourists while maintaining the excitement and freshness
obtained from a variety of activities. Hudson (2003: 8) described this
segment as aiming to non-adrenaline junkies and their families. Soft
adventure can be found in many natural sites, where tourists do nature
watching or fishing or volcano visiting, all conducted within a closely
watched guideline to insure customers. Costa Rica is a prime example of
soft adventure tourism. In this category, however, there seems to be a
significant overlap between nature-based tourism, eco-tourism and
adventure tourism (Swarbrooke et al. 2003). Buckley (2010) insisted that
the wildlife tourism, safaris and the like belong to the wildlife adventure
tourism economy. Depending on their nature and the perspective of
customers, walking with lions or gorilla hikes can be defined as either soft
adventure or wildlife tourism, therefore nature-based adventure could then
be considered to be a second category of adventure tourism (McKay,
2013).
The last category is then called hard adventure tourism, or extreme
tourism. Very often extreme sports that come with great risks supposed to
be well acknowledged by tourists play the major attraction in this segment.
Hard adventure involves strenuous physical exertion, presenting a potential
risk to life and limb., hence a higher element of risk (McKay, 2013). A few
representative examples are river rafting, scuba-diving, skydiving, bungee
jumping.
3. Adventure tourism management Risks and benefits:
3.1. Ecological impact:
Adventure tourism is, in most cases, taking place in outdoor sites. It is
evident that adventure tourism is largely dependent on the natural
elements, and thus leave quite a footprint behind it (Buckley, 2006: 13).
Most of the environmental impacts to landscape, land and soil and other
wildlife (hiking, camping, horse riding and driving, rock climbing, skiing and
ski resort), to marine systems (diving, snorkeling, whale watching)
especially coral reefs and marine mammals have been studied to a certain
extend.
Maintaining a sustainable tourism policy is crucial to nature-based
adventure tourism. For example, in scuba-diving, most of the reports are
about breakage of branching corals, principally by inexperienced divers
(Buckley, 2006: 14). Luna et al. (2009) and Rouphael & Hanafy (2007)

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emphasized the effect of underwater guides and limit on number of tourists

to help improve the condition of the seabed and tropical coral reefs.
3.2. Risk management:
Risk experience and safety is one of the key defining adventure
tourism from other forms of tourism. While many scholars argues that taking
risk is an important part of experience adventures, and it is the possibility of
injury or even death that induces the desire to taking part in such activities
(Kane, 2010), right in the industry the risk elements are very often
downplayed by the operators because naturally only a small number people
are ready to engage in risky and life threatening pastimes risks must be
managed if the adventure tourism operator is to thrive (McKay, 2013).
There is the need for a guideline for tour operators or leaders of adventure
recreations that needs to be followed to guarantee a level of safety for the
group and each individuals, as the participants motivation is only thrills and
excitement (Cater, 2006).
Risk management, therefore, plays a crucial element of the
adventure tourism business (McKay, 2013). Tour operators must be well
aware of the safety procedures, and have the quickest access to first-aid
stations in emergency. Unlike many other tourism forms, skilled and trained
guides are an essential element to ensure the safety of tourists they are
the first to react in case of any incident, and any incident should be dealt
with immediately if occurred (McKay, 2013). Another problem tour operators
might encounter is coming from the tourists. A number of adventure
activities, especially hard adventure tourism, requires a certain physical
condition from participants. Tourists are not always honest about their
fitness. A medical certificate has been discussed to be included in
reservation procedure as a safety method (Buckley, 2010).
3.3. Benefits:
As aforementioned, adventure tourism is heavily dependent on
natural sites and capacity. This is one of the major reasons why it is chosen
as an economic development driving force in many third world countries
(Rodenburg 1980; Wanhill 2000; Marques & Cunha 2010). Adventure tourism
can provide job opportunities (local guides, tourists support and service) and
also improve the cash flow from foreign tourists. McKay (2013) stated that
backward linkages from this industry which is dominated by small- and
medium-sized enterprises can generate local economic growth through job
creation and income generation.
4. Conclusion:
Adventure tourism is currently the leading segment of global tourism
industry with a yearly growth of 65% (ATTA, 2013). This fact leaves
adventure tourism, whether it is soft or nature-based or hard adventure, at
the door of many opportunities and challenge. Especially for developing
countries, the nature environment can be of use if it is in the right hand and
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with clear, crisp sustainable tourism policy. Right now adventure tourism is
still mostly dominated by developed countries, heavily owned to the fact
that these activities require a high level of safety insurance and appropriate
tools and equipment. Despite that, a door is left open for the third world to
seize the chance. This paper tried to emphasize a few essential sides of
adventure tourism management, and the need to practice fundamental
steps in the implement of any policy regarding to adventure tourism.

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