Every time you travel through the jungle or take a raft down some white water rapids, you are helping countries around the world rescue their economy and develop their tourism industry, according to a new study.
George Washington University’s International Institute of Tourism Studies found that adventure tourism is not only helping the growing global tourism market, but is helping developing countries get their economies back on track.
“Instead of being seen as a small, niche market, the study shows that adventure tourism is a sizable market with the potential for significant economic growth opportunities,” said Dr. Kristin Lamoureux, director of the program. “Additionally, adventure tourism often relies heavily on the natural and cultural resources a destination has to offer. For many developing destination without the resource to build infrastructure, adventure tourism is a realistic alternative and proves a strong argument for preserving a destination’s resources.”
The study, which was done in partnership with the Adventure Travel Trade Association and Xola Consulting, found that consumers spent more than $89 billion around the world on adventure travel in 2009. The growth in the adventure tourism is a positive for both public and private economic sectors, as it spurs economic growth around the whole country.
For the most authentic adventure travel experience, it is recommended that you travel with a small group.
