Almost 75% of adventure travelers polled
said that responsible travel practices play a key role when
choosing a travel provider for an adventure vacation, according to
a recent Opinion Research national survey.
The survey was
sponsored by the Adventure Collection, a group of 11 adventure
travel companies that includes Backroads, Buddy Bombards Europe,
Bushtracks Expeditions, Canadian Mountain Holidays, Geographic
Expeditions, Lindblad Expeditions, Micato Safaris, Natural Habitat
Adventures, National Outdoor Leadership Schools, Outdoor Adventure
River Specialists) and Off the Beaten Path.
The study found
that active travelers are willing to spend an average of 10% more
on excursions if they are confident that the travel provider is
responsible and respects the ecology and diversity of the
planet.
Of travelers who
are willing to pay more for responsible travel practices, travelers
under age 35 led the pack. Those 18 to 24 said they would pay up to
13% more, closely followed by the 25-to-34 group, who would pony up
an additional 12%.
Bill Bryan,
chairman of Off the Beaten Path, said that the results confirm that
this is a new way for travel providers to look at adventure travel.
More and more travelers are as interested in the cultural and
environmental issues as they are in the physical attributes of the
location, he said.
Bryan also said
that Adventure Collection members have always believed that the
true adventure experience combines both the mind and body -- which
can only happen when travel providers practice and uphold
responsible travel standards.