Adventure Tourism Activities Research Articles

A Sustainable Adventure Tourism Development Framework for Thathevondo

Usually adventure tourism activities are based in natural and rugged outdoor locations, and participants interact with their environment. In view of the current growing trend towards adventure-orientated holiday behavior, it is important to identify potential adventure tourism attractions and, help communities to develop and attract the adventure tourism market. This paper proposes a sustainable adventure tourism development framework for the ThatheVondo area in Venda, a former so-called “homeland” of South Africa. The research is quantitative in nature and purposive sampling was used at the villages and government departments responsible for tourism and the environment in the ThatheVondo area. This was to get the relevant participants with relevant information. A sustainable adventure tourism development framework was proposed towards positioning ThatheVondo in the adventure market, towards developing adventure activities, improving standards of living for the communities, and to enable the area to have an advantage over its competitors while being sustainable.

Northern opportunities: A strategic review of Canada's Arctic icebreaking services

Abstract Climate change presages increasingly ice-free waters in the Canadian Arctic and fundamental reconfiguration of Asia–Europe and Asia–US East Coast marine transportation networks via the Northwest Passage (NWP). Retreating sea ice will impact the annual re-supply of goods to northern communities, natural resource development, cruise ship and adventure tourism activity, and the fishing industry. Reviews of infrastructure to support increased shipping activity and support future developments highlight an ageing Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) icebreaker fleet. This paper aims to debate the need for, and provision, ownership and management of Arctic icebreaking services required to serve a NWP. It reports perceptions by 110 experts of future marine activity in the Canadian Arctic and CCG services, principally Arctic icebreaking, in terms of their effectiveness and efficiency. The extent of possible private involvement is identified and evaluated. The requirements needed to ensure timely and uninterrupted marine transportation from vessels operating in these waters are highlighted.

Demand Indicators for Adventure Tourism Packages in Costa Rica: An Exploratory Analysis

This paper analyzes the management of international tourist demand for adventure activities in Costa Rica and Valle Central. In particular, tourist demand for activities such as hiking, bird watching, nature observation and visits to volcanoes, among others, is not being met by tour operators and travel agencies. These activities are being offered without knowledge of the best combined option or packages. Taking as reference the Survey for Non-resident Tourists, this study analyzes the global trend of preferences of the visitors during the period 2001-2007, including how these tourists would organize their holiday given the opportunity to do so. To this end, we develop a combinatory analysis with probability measures to assess levels of the demand preferences and the efficient management of the suppliers. The results show the combinations of different adventure tourism activities which are considered more appealing, as well as providing orientation for agents in this sector to improve management.

The relationship between white-water rafting experience formation and customer reaction: a flow theory perspective

White-water rafting is an exciting form of water adventure that not only satisfies the need of tourists to interact with nature, but also represents an invigorating recreational experience, thereby explaining why it has become a popular adventure tourism activity in Taiwan. Although a few studies have analyzed multiple tourist tourism experiences, there is still a lack of research adopting the flow experience perspective to understand tourist motivations when participating in rafting activities. Therefore, this study adopts the concept of flow experience to examine the relationships among experience antecedents, flow experience and result variables. The statistical results show that tourist rafting skill, level of challenge of rafting activity and playfulness significantly and positively influence tourist flow experience that, in turn, promotes a positive mood and satisfaction. Moreover, tourist satisfaction significantly and positively influences tourist loyalty. Finally, the research findings and theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.

Monitoring Injury in the New Zealand Adventure Tourism Sector: An Operator Survey

Client safety is a major risk management concern for the commercial adventure tourism sector in New Zealand. This study built on previous exploratory analyses of New Zealand adventure tourism safety, including industry surveys conducted by these authors in 1999 and 2003. The aims of the study were to provide a continuation of injury monitoring across the sector through data collected from self-reported injury incidence by industry operators and to compare findings with those from other primary and secondary research studies conducted by the authors. A postal questionnaire was used to survey all identifiable New Zealand adventure tourism operators during 2006. The questionnaire asked respondents about their recorded client injury experience, perceptions of client injury risk factors, and safety management practices. Some 21 adventure tourism activities were represented among the responding sample (n = 127), with most operations being very small in terms of staff numbers, although responding operators catered to nearly 1 million clients in total annually. Highest ranked risk factors for client injury included clients not following instructions; level of client skill, ability, and fitness; and changeable/unpredictable weather conditions. Highest client injury was reported for horse riding, ecotourism, and white water rafting sectors, although serious underreporting of minor injuries was evidenced across the sector. Slips, trips, and falls were the most frequently reported injury mechanism, while safety management measures were inconsistently applied across the sector. The industry should address reporting culture issues and safety management practices generally. Specifically, the industry should consider risk management that focuses on minor (eg, falls) as well as catastrophic events.

Arcadia in the Antipodes:Tourist's Reflections on New Zealand as Nature Experience

This article directs attention to German tourists' fascination with New Zealand. I first scrutinise New Zealand's representation and reveal the ways it is invented and conceptualised by the tourist industry as a 'pure' nature paradise and island reserve. I point to the residual effect of representations and argue that Tourism New Zealand's advertising strategies,international perception and national identity are intertwined and mutually constructed. I then examine the subjectivity of a specific German tourist clientele which is mainly attracted by New Zealand's scenery and less interested in, or even rejects, outdoor adventure tourism activities. I situate their enthusiasm toward New Zealand in the wider frame of environmentalism and concepts of nature in Germany, which are informed by both the philosophical legacy of Romanticism and the political culture emerging in the aftermath of the Second World War. I argue that what the German visitors expect to find in New Zealand is their ideal interaction with the natural world, as both an inspirational force and political concept. In conclusion, I link my findings to imaginaries of island purity and stasis, which contrast positively with notions of globalisaiton, rapid change and instability.

Analyzing the Risk of Drowning at Surf Beaches

A clear understanding of the nature of risk in outdoor adventure tourism activities will assist the development of injury prevention strategies and so increase tourist safety. Using the example of surf beach drowning, a risk analysis process is outlined to identify the source and nature of hazards and related risks inherent to this setting. The process applies Haddon's Matrix to identify candidate risk factors related to either participants engaged in water-based activities or the surf beach environment. Causal risk factors are then distinguished using a risk balloon analogy. The final phase of the process assesses whether causal risk factors are modifiable for the purpose of developing injury prevention programs.

Safety in New Zealand's adventure tourism industry: the client accident experience of adventure tourism operators.

Injuries and fatalities among participants of adventure tourism activities have the potential to seriously impact on New Zealand's tourism industry. However, the absence of statistics for tourist accidents in New Zealand, and the lack of detailed academic research into adventure tourism safety, means the extent of the problem is unknown. The aims of the present study were to determine the incidence of client injuries across a range of adventure tourism activity sectors, and to identify common accident events and contributory risk factors. A postal questionnaire survey of New Zealand adventure tourism operators was used. Operators were asked to provide information related to their business; the number of recorded client injuries during the preceding 12 month period, January to December 1998; common accident and injury events associated with their activity; and perceived risk factors for accidents in their sector of the adventure tourism industry. The survey was responded to by 142 New Zealand adventure tourism operators. The operators' reported client injury experience suggests the incidence of serious client injuries is very low. Highest client injury incidence rates were found for activities that involved the risk of falling from a moving vehicle or animal (e.g., cycle tours, quad biking, horse riding, and white-water rafting). Slips, trips, and falls on the level were common accident events across most sectors of the industry. Perceived accident/incident causes were most commonly related to the client, and in particular, failure to attend to and follow instructions. The prevalence of client injuries in activity sectors not presently covered by government regulation, suggests policy makers should look again at extending codes of practice to a wider range of adventure tourism activities. Further research considering adventure tourism involvement in overseas visitor hospitalized injuries in New Zealand, is currently in progress. This will provide supporting evidence for the risk associated with participation in a range of commercial and independently undertaken adventure activities.

The Safety Experience of New Zealand Adventure Tourism Operators

This survey examined parameters of the New Zealand adventure tourism industry client injury risk. The research also sought to establish priorities for intervention to reduce adventure tourism risk, and identify client injury control measures currently in place (or absent) in the New Zealand adventure tourism industry, with a view to establishing guidelines for the development of effective adventure tourism safety management systems. This 2003 survey builds upon an exploratory study of New Zealand adventure tourism safety conducted by us during 1999. A postal questionnaire was used to survey all identifiable New Zealand adventure tourism operators. The questionnaire asked respondents about their recorded client injury experience, perceptions of client injury risk factors, safety management practices, and barriers to safety. Some 27 adventure tourism activities were represented among the responding sample (n=96). The highest client injury risk was reported in the snow sports, bungee jumping and horse riding sectors, although serious underreporting of minor injuries was evident across the industry. Slips, trips and falls (STF) were the major client injury mechanisms, and a range of risk factors for client injuries were identified. Safety management measures were inconsistently applied across the industry. The industry should consider the implications of poor injury reporting standards and safety management practices generally. Specifically, the industry should consider risk management that focuses on minor (e.g., STF) as well as catastrophic events.

Rural tourism — meeting the challenges of the new South Africa

AbstractRural tourism in South Africa has undergone fundamental change since the advent of political democracy in 1995. Previously perceived as a ‘white man's thing’, rural tourism is increasingly finding a home amongst South Africa's formerly marginalised rural communities. The country has considerable potential in attracting tourists in search of new, exciting experiences in areas of unexploited natural beauty and rich cultural resources. The concept of rural tourism has mushroomed to include adventure tourism activities, cultural tourism and, lately, a new phenomenon in rural communities known as ‘township tourism’. There are, however, substantial challenges to be overcome if the rural tourism sector is to achieve its goals. These include a lack of capacity at local government level, the difficulties involved in operationalising community‐based rural tourism and the dearth of entrepreneurial expertise, management skills and capital with which to expand the rural tourism infrastructure. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Adventure Tourism in Africa: The Case of Livingstone, Zambia

ABSTRACT Adventure tourism is attracting an increasing scholarly literature, which is particularly focused upon New Zealand, Canada and parts of Asia. Research on adventure tourism in Africa is little developed. The aim of this article is to analyse the growth of adventure tourism at the Zambian city of Livingstone, which is emerging as Africa's ‘adventure tourism capital’. Since 1996 Zambia has sought to promote programmes of economic diversification, partly by marketing the country's tourism experience as the ‘real Africa’. Livingstone and its adventure tourism activities focused on the Zambezi River and Victoria Falls as the leading centre of Zambian tourism. The city's adventure tourism economy has been opened up by foreign investors, mainly from South Africa, Zimbabwe and New Zealand. The cluster of adventure tourism operations is linked to the upgrading of the local tourism infrastructure, most importantly with improved airport facilities and new major South African investments in hotels. Currently, the majority of visitors to Livingstone are intra-African tourists rather than intercontinental tourists. Although Livingstone's recent expansion of tourism has benefited, to some degree, from political instability in Zimbabwe, future propects would be enhanced by stability in Zimbabwe which would improve percenptions of southern Africa as a whole be international tourists.

The Potential for Using Very High Spatial Resolution Imagery for Marine Search and Rescue Surveillance

Recreational boating activities represent one of the highest risk populations in the marine environment. Moreover, there is a trend of increased risk exposure by recreational boaters such as those who undertake adventure tourism, sport fishing/hunting, and personal watercraft (PWC) activities. When trying to plan search and rescue activities, there are data deficiencies regarding inventories, activity type, and spatial location of small, recreational boats. This paper examines the current body of research in the application of remote sensing technology in marine search and rescue. The research suggests commercially available very high spatial resolution satellite (VHSR) imagery can be used to detect small recreational vessels using a sub‐pixel detection methodology. The sub‐pixel detection method utilizes local image statistics based on spatio‐spectral considerations. This methodology would have to be adapted for use with VHSR imagery as it was originally used in hyperspectral imaging. Further, the authors examine previous research on ‘target characterization’ which uses a combination of spectral based classification, and context based feature extraction to generate information such as: length, heading, position, and material of construction for target vessels. This technique is based on pixel‐based processing used in generic digital image processing and computer vision. Finally, a preliminary recreational vessel surveillance system ‐ called Marine Recreational Vessel Reconnaissance (MRV Recon) is tested on some modified VHSR imagery.

Chinese Students – A New Zealand Tourism Niche?

AbstractThis paper describes the findings of research into the travel patterns of 264 University students at a university in New Zealand. The number of overseas Chinese students studying in New Zealand in 2002 is estimated to be about 15,000. The paper finds relatively high levels of independent travel by the sample. They tend to travel in groups, by private car but spend relatively highly if only because they prefer motel and hotel accommodation to cheaper alternatives like backpacker hostels. They are also unlike northern European counterparts by not participating very highly in adventure tourism activities, but prefer more passive activities. A cluster analysis indicated three main groups that are labeled as being “combined motivation travellers”, “social traveller” and “new experience explorer and adventure seeker”.

Language and Perceptions of an Adventure Location in New Zealand

This paper is based upon a sample of 235 Kiwi Experience holidaymakers staying at leats one night at a lodge that provides not solely accommodation but also a range of adventure tourism activities: notably white water rafting. The nature of the site, the activities being offered, the way in which the operation is conducted - all create a specific type of experience. The study was prompted by the desire of the proprietors to better understand the visitors' requirements in order to further increase profitability. However, both the visitor's book and the usual comments of visitors elicited a restricted language, characterised by terms such as 'radical', 'its great' and 'fabulous'. This paper reports one aspect of the study, the language of the visitors, and a way in which this language was broken down into specific themes that revealed insights into the nature of the experience. It is suggested that the findings reinforce the concepts suggested by Dann (2000) derived from an analysis of promotional holiday brochures, and that difference and contrast are important components of the holiday product.

How safe is adventure tourism in New Zealand? An exploratory analysis

The paper reports findings from a multidisciplinary programme of research, the major aims of which were to determine the nature and extent of the New Zealand adventure tourism injury problem. Analysis of hospital discharge and mortality data for a 15-year period identified adventure tourism-related activities as contributing to approximately 20% of overseas visitor injuries, and 22% of fatalities. Activities that commonly involve independent-unguided adventure tourism, notably mountaineering, skiing and tramping, contributed most to injury and fatality incidence. Horse riding and cycling activities were identified from hospital discharge data and adventure tourism operators’ reported client injury-incidence, as the commercial adventure tourism activities most frequently involved in client injuries. Falls were the most common injury events, and a range of client, equipment, environmental and organisational risk factors were identified. Possible interventions to reduce injury risk among overseas and domestic adventure tourists are discussed.

Recreational tourism injuries among visitors to New Zealand: an exploratory analysis using hospital discharge data

New Zealand Health Information Service (NZHIS) morbidity data for the 15-year period, 1982–1996, were analysed to determine the role of recreational and adventure tourism in overseas visitor injuries, and identify recreational activities with greatest injury occurrence. Approximately 19 per cent of all injuries involved recreational/adventure tourism activities, corresponding to 8.4 injuries per 100,000 overseas visitor arrivals. This figure can be compared to that for motor vehicle traffic accidents (12), and suggests a significant recreational tourism injury problem in New Zealand. Injuries were concentrated in regions known to be major centres for adventure tourism in New Zealand, and were most commonly sustained by overseas visitors aged between 20 and 40 years. Tourist injuries were observed most frequently for activities that involve independent, unguided recreation, notably skiing, mountaineering and tramping. Of the commercial adventure tourism activities, horse riding and cycling were the only significant contributors to overseas visitor injuries.

Accidents in the New Zealand adventure tourism industry

The New Zealand adventure tourism industry was surveyed to determine the incidence of client accidents and injuries and to investigate operators’ accident investigation and reporting behaviour. The 142 adventure tourism operators who responded to the survey represented a wide and diverse range of adventure activities, including kayaking, white water rafting, mountain recreation, horse riding and guided walks. Businesses surveyed were concentrated in locations acknowledged as main centres of adventure tourism activity. Operators were asked a number of questions regarding their accident notification, investigation and reporting behaviour. Poorest accident reporting performance was found for smaller operators, and among operators from the least regulated sectors of the adventure tourism industry. A very low incidence of client injuries was reported by operators, suggesting accidents and injuries are being seriously under-reported in some sectors. Highest client injury-incidence rates were found for activities that involved the risk of falling from a moving vehicle or animal (cycle tours, quad biking, horse riding and white water rafting). Operators from these sectors frequently reported ‘falls from a height’ as accidents involving clients. Slips, trips and falls on the level were common across most sectors of the industry. A conceptual model of operators’ perceptions of common risk factors for accidents/incidents involving clients is presented. Recommendations for intervention and further research are discussed.

Risk, Competence and Adventure Tourists: Applying the Adventure Experience Paradigm to White-Water Rafters

The utility of the Adventure Experience Paradigm (AEP) as a framework for studying participants' experiences in a water-based adventure tourism activity is examined using a convenience sample of white-water rafters (N = 84) in New Zealand. Participants were grouped into challenge conditions based on their self-reports of post-adventure risk and competence. Group comparisons revealed a number of statistically significant differences on the measures of perceived fear, danger, anxiousness, and control (p < .05). However, the results were inconclusive for the concentration measure and no differences were evident on the boredom measure. Implications for adventure tourism operators are suggested and future research recommended.

Unintentional Injury in New Zealand: Priorities and Future Directions

The paper reports findings from a multidisciplinary programme of research, the major aims of which were to determine the nature and extent of the New Zealand adventure tourism injury problem. Analysis of hospital discharge and mortality data for a 15-year period identified adventure tourism-related activities as contributing to approximately 20% of overseas visitor injuries, and 22% of fatalities. Activities that commonly involve independent-unguided adventure tourism, notably mountaineering, skiing and tramping, contributed most to injury and fatality incidence. Horse riding and cycling activities were identified from hospital discharge data and adventure tourism operators’ reported client injury-incidence, as the commercial adventure tourism activities most frequently involved in client injuries. Falls were the most common injury events, and a range of client, equipment, environmental and organisational risk factors were identified. Possible interventions to reduce injury risk among overseas and domestic adventure tourists are discussed.

Adventure Tourism Activities in New Zealand: Perceptions and Management of Client Risk

For many participants, negotiating risk is an attractive feature of structured adventure tourism activities. However, a failure to control that risk will potentially cause harm both to participants directly involved and to the reputation of the activity's operator. In examining adventure tourism, this paper reviews how operators assess risk and explains why clients accept that risk. Following this, a model describing participants' conditions of adventure based on the interactions between their perception of fear of physical hazards and control is proposed. This model is then integrated into a framework that depicts the adventure tourism process. Based on this framework, a number of research areas are suggested and a process for industry standardization is outlined.