ADVENTURE TOURISM: TYPES, BENEFITS, CHALLENGES, AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Adventure tourism has become a major component of the global tourism industry. It's essentially about going to a 'natural' or 'unusual' destination and doing something which is exciting, involves a physical element and gives you a new experience. The paper looks at the various forms of adventure tourism, the benefits to both the tourist and to the local community and the problems that are associated with its development. The focus is on the economic impact, safety and the environment. A descriptive and qualitative research approach has been used with general information on adventure tourism. The findings indicate that it provides employment, supports local enterprise and enables the tourist to get out into the natural environment. There are of course safety issues and environmental issues too. The paper concludes that adventure tourism can only be developed in the long term with sustainable management and responsible tourism practices in place.