Second edition of Adventure Travel Guide Standards published

The second edition of the Adventure Travel Guide Standards has been published by the Adventure Travel Guide Standards Governance Board with the support of the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA).

Created by volunteers, members, ambassadors, industry partners and staff, the new Guide is seen as being better aligned with the needs of the adventure travel industry and includes updated research and examples used by Governments, destination managers and companies when evaluating the quality and performance of their own guides and determining appropriate training programs.

A statement from the ATGS Governance Board advised “adventure travel guides are central to the delivery of professional, responsible and memorable adventure travel experiences.

“The rapid growth in adventure travel in recent decades has led to an increase in demand for professional adventure travel guides and highlighted the need for an accessible, clear and universal adventure travel guide standard.

“Adventure guides manage safety and risks and ensure the overall quality of participant’s experience while safeguarding both adventure travel company and destination reputations. Moreover, adventure travel guides have a critical role to play in delivering and educating about sustainability with focus on the climate emergency, biodiversity preservation, social impacts of global tourism and biosecurity issues.”

In an effort to bring together one integrated Adventure Travel Guide Standard (ATGS), in 2015 the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) convened a working group of adventure travel professionals from 16 countries, including guides, business owners, and tour operators. The 1st Edition was published in February 2016.

In accordance with the ATGS Governance Board, the ATGS is revised every five years, first by a working group of Governance Board members and then through a public consultation process. The 2nd edition was revised between August 2019 and October 2020 and released to the public in February 2021.

This ATGS is offered to the industry as a voluntary guideline. It is not enforced or regulated by the ATTA or any other organisation.

To support the Adventure Travel Guide Standard, companies, guides and destination managers are encouraged to review the ATGS and officially sign up to the document, signalling their support and intention to adhere to the best practice components of adventure travel guiding.

North American travellers plan future tourism activities during lockdown
ATTA has also highlighted a recent study that shows 70% of North Americans are coping with being unable to travel during the pandemic by taking up hobbies that will enhance their future adventures.

The survey, commissioned by adventure tour operator Exodus Travels and conducted by OnePoll.

The survey dug of 2,000 self-identified ‘travellers’ who have been grounded during the pandemic, revealed that 79% said they found embracing their hobbies and travel-related activities were key to combating things like boredom, loneliness and being unable to travel due to COVID-19.

75% of respondents said that they’ve started completely new hobbies - about four, on average – while 34% started learning a new language, 45% took up watching travel shows, 49% spent their time reading stories about dream vacations, and 44% began researching hotels and trips they could potentially book when it’s safe to travel again.

Commenting on the findings, Robin Brooks, Exodus Travels’ Marketing and PR Director, stated “it’s been heartening to see so many people taking their passion for global exploration and turning it inward.

“Considering everything people have endured, for them to be subscribing to new modes of self-discovery and taking this time to learn new skills and interests that can inform their future travel experiences - there’s just something incredibly hopeful about that.”

According to a past OnePoll report, those who rated their current happiness at a nine or 10 (in a 10-point scale) were the most likely to be currently planning a trip - which shows people are happiest when they have an upcoming adventure to look forward to.

Images: The Adventure Alternatives Education Centre (top) and the cover of the second edition of the Adventure Travel Guide Standards (below).