Unprecedented Array of Exploratory Adventures Offered in Conjunction With 2008 South America and Europe Adventure Travel World Summits
SEATTLE, June 11, 2008 – The Adventure Travel Trade Association is offering pre- and post-conference adventure tour extensions for delegates attending its annual Adventure Travel World Summit (ATWS) events in concert with host countries Brazil and Norway.
ATTA’s first Adventure Travel World Summit of 2008 (South America) will be held in São Paulo, Brazil, Sept. 3-6. Between October 21-25 the ATTA will hold its second, the Adventure Travel World Summit-Europe, in Norway aboard Hurtigruten’s MS Midnatsol, an expedition passenger ship.
Along with its respective partners in Brazil and Norway, the ATTA is offering an unprecedented array of familiarization trips for Summit delegates to coincide with the conferences. Each of the more than 20 adventure excursions offered between the two Summit events varies between two and nine days and is intended as new product scouting opportunities to reveal unique and authentic adventures for future development. Nominal fees will be charged.
Before the ATWS-South America program, the ATTA, the Brazilian Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Trade Association (ABETA), and EMBRATUR, the Brazilian Tourism Board are teaming up to provide a compelling blend of Brazilian nature, adventure, culture and discovery by offering 15 itineraries to more than 20 destinations, including World Heritage Sites, National Parks and Biosphere Reserves. Following the official Summit’s conference close, all Summit delegates also may participate for free in a Sept. 7 series of five “Adventure Day” options including rafting, trekking, zip-line and orienteering options.
Delegates attending the Norway Summit have a choice of a variety of multi-day adventure outings both prior to and after the shipboard conference. Activities include a wild reindeer safari, sea kayaking, guided hiking, skiing, kayaking, rafting, climbing, glacier trekking, fishing and cultural immersion among others. ATTA’s Summit in Norway aboard the Midnatsol is a voyage from Tromsø to Bergen via Norway’s fjords. Special on-shore opening and closing events will be held in Tromsø and Bergen respectively, and the voyage includes numerous port-city visits, including special on-shore adventure activities at Trondheim and Ålesund. Upon the close of the event in Bergen on October 25, all Summit delegates will be offered a series of free, guided in-city cultural adventures prior to the official closing of the event.
Familiarization tours are sponsored by the ATTA, Innovation Norway (the Tourism Board of Norway), Fjord Norway, and partners, Tromsø, Bergen and Hurtigruten (formerly Norwegian Coastal Voyage).
According to Chris Doyle, Vice President of the ATTA, “These familiarization trips offer our host destinations the opportunity to fully showcase their adventure travel potential and to connect visiting operators, agents and journalists with local suppliers. Norway and Brazil recognize the business potential for showcasing their hospitality and adventure options first-hand to the hundreds of industry professionals attending each of these distinct events.”
Summit and adventure excursion information is available online at http://www.adventuretravelworldsummit.com Delegate registration fees and special transportation and accommodation packages for each Summit vary distinctly between each event.
Major Sponsors of the ATTA and both 2008 Adventure Travel World Summits include ExOfficio travel clothing, MenÂ’s Journal magazine, and W.L. Gore and Associates, makers of Gore-Tex. Key Sponsors include Adventure Central, Alpine Tourist Commission, Best of the Alps, Brazil, Chile, Innovation Norway, and National Geographic Adventure.
Established in 1990, the Seattle-based ATTA (http://www.adventuretravel.biz) is a global membership organization dedicated to unifying, professionalizing, promoting and responsibly growing the adventure travel market worldwide. ATTA Members include tour operators, destination marketing organizations, tourism boards, travel agents/agencies, guides, lodges/resorts/attractions, media and service providers. Host of the Adventure Travel World Summits, the ATTA provides professional support, development, education, research, marketing, career building, networking and cost saving resources to its members.
June 11, 2008
Posted in: Travel Industry Info