Adventures in Travel Expo
Taps Into Hot Vacation Trend

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By Max Hartshorne,
GoNOMAD Editor

Which travel trend is on the rise, generates more than $115 billion annually in the US alone, and attracts singles, couples, families, and vacationers of every age group? Soft adventure travel – and it offers a robust and resounding answer to questions about how the economy and travel safety concerns will affect the future of the travel industry.

As this segment of the travel market continues to gain strength, the Adventures in Travel Expo (ATE), presented by the New York Post eachyear, tantalizes adventure consumers with a wide panorama of exciting new travel options. And GoNOMAD is always there to find out the latest information and to let people know about our site.

Taking on New York

The Expo makes its way to The Big Apple as adventure travel is poised to become among the biggest drivers of growth in the travel industry. Two-thirds of Americans participate in outdoor recreation each year, and in fact they spend $125 billion annually on outdoor recreational equipment—a number that tops even the $50 billion US consumers spent annually on adventure travel itself.

Capacity at major national parks such as Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Zion is fully booked months in advance of the summer travel season. National forest use also has skyrocketed—from 560 million recreation days in 1980 to 860 million recreation days in 1996. Capitalizing on the trend, nearly 8500 tour operators in the US have added adventure travel trips to the vacation options they offer to their customers.

The Adventures in Travel Expo brings together hundreds of destinations, resorts, outfitters and gear manufacturers from around the globe to showcase the best in adventure travel. Everything needed to plan an exciting vacation can be found at the expos — from climbing the pyramids in Egypt to diving the Great Barrier Reef in Australia , from a golf vacation in Ireland to biking tours in the Rocky Mountains — along with all of the experts who put these trips together.

Reconnecting with Nature

“The idea of spending time off the beaten path appeals to a growing number of travelers,” says ATE Executive Director Jim Cohen. “They’re discovering a sense of satisfaction and even a new sense of themselves in trying something new, testing their physical and athletic abilities, and reconnecting with nature and the great outdoors.

The breadth of experiences encompassed by soft adventure offers these benefits to people regardless of their level of athleticism. Whether they opt for a local destination or one that’s half a world away, soft adventure travelers have the opportunity to savor new experiences, new cultures, and new dimensions of themselves. "Anyone who wants more out of a vacation than a seat on a packed tour bus will find a wealth of exciting opportunities to explore at the Adventures in Travel Expo,” said Cohen.

ATE showcases travel options as diverse as guided archaeological expeditions, teambuilding, or indigenous/cultural immersion trips; encounters with nature on photographic safaris, whale-watching cruises or llama treks; and vacations centered around sports such as snorkeling, whitewater rafting, bicycle touring, skiing, snowshoeing, spelunking/caving, sea kayaking and windsurfing.

Open to the Public

Adventure enthusiasts and families also enjoy a host of on-site activities, like huge rock climbing walls, DEMA dive pools and kayak pools, as well as fun, informative workshops, book signings by well-known adventure travelers, and a myriad of cultural performances and foods from around the world.

The show is open to the public, with destinations and resorts from around the globe, adventure experts, gear demonstrations, and a host of exciting on-site activities like a kayak pool, rock climbing walls, luxury spa massages, photo workshops, inspiring seminars, and music from around the world.

For more information about the Adventures in Travel Expo and detailed contest rules, visit the Adventures in Travel Expo web site at adventureexpo.com.

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