23 Apr 2014
SEATTLE, WA – AdventureWeek, a specialized, nine-day familiarization (FAM) journey coordinated by the Adventure Travel Trade Association (www.adventuretravel.biz, ATTA), will debut in Europe, deep in the ancient cultural crossroads and rugged lands of the Western Balkans featuring Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia between August 26 and September 3, 2014.
The three Southeastern European destinations are engaged in a precedent-setting, cooperative strategy to raise awareness of the adventure potential of the region among international outbound operators, specialized travel agents and international travel journalists.
The ATTA, which has intensified its work in the region over the past two years, will screen up to 25 hosted participants for AdventureWeek. A core component of the trip is a chance for buyers to meet with a group of local operators in each destination in a half-day “marketplace” to foster an understanding of the market and begin partnership building.
“The strength of AdventureWeek is that it is designed by adventure travel experts for adventure sellers,” said ATTA President Mr. Shannon Stowell “AdventureWeek has proven to be very effective concept in providing destinations with unmatched opportunities to expose their breadth of product to, and to learn, partner and conduct business with a highly qualified group of international buyers and media.”
The nine-day itinerary will feature approximately three days in each country with a mix of activities related to history, culture and adventure. Participants will visit a number of UNESCO World Heritage sites, enjoy slow-food meals in rural settings and learn about cuisine from local providers, and have access to hiking, biking, rock climbing, rafting, and paragliding.
In Spring 2014 the ATTA delivered a two-day ATTA AdventureEDU education and training program in Macedonia to help the region better prepare to receive international arrivals. This combined with the Western Balkans' presence at the ATTA's 2014 Adventure Travel World Summit in Killarney, Ireland, October 6-9, is part of a new collaborative process between the ATTA, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), government tourism agencies and other public and private organizations and companies from Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia.
Additional details regarding the itinerary will be made available in June 2014. Interested buyers, specialty travel advisors and media from the targeted region are encouraged to apply here and register now to participate in a free educational webinar on Thursday, April 24. ATTA's Executive Director-Europe Chris Doyle and Western Balkans Tourism Team Leader Gergana Nikolova will offer background on the collaboration by these three countries and have more details on the AdventureWeek itinerary.
###
About Adventure Travel Trade Association
Established in 1990, the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) serves nearly 900 members in 80 countries worldwide. Members predominantly include tour operators, tourism boards, travel advisors and accommodations with a vested interest in the sustainable development of adventure tourism. The ATTA delivers solutions and connections that propel members towards their business goals and the industry toward a responsible and profitable future. Through its regional AdventureConnect events and annual Adventure Travel World Summit trade conference, the ATTA excels in professional learning, networking and partnering services. With expertise in research, education, adventure travel industry news and promotion, members of the ATTA receive competitive opportunities that help establish them as leaders in adventure tourism.
For more information:
-
Adventure.Travel – the travelers' guide to finding adventure featuring ATTA member operator tours
To connect with us:
Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn & Adventure Travel World Summit Group | Pinterest
