Tourism, Security and Safety From Theory to Practice

Commercial Adventure Tourism Activities
Adventure travel and adventure tourism are often discussed as the same phenom-
enon. Adventure travel is a form of tourism involving an ongoing and self-
organized experience (Webber, 2001). The time required for adventure travel may
run into weeks or even months. We define adventure tourism from an activity per-
spective. Thus, participants in adventure tourism activities will be drawn from
adventure travelers as well as package tourists and perhaps local residents.
Examples of adventure tourism activities include commercial operations in white-
water rafting, sea kayaking, horseback riding, mountain biking, cross-country ski-
ing, and rock climbing. The definition of commercial adventure tourism activities,
adapted from an earlier definition offered by Hall (1992), is: “A broad spectrum of
commercialized recreational operations that facilitate tourists’ deliberate engage-
ments with elements of risk emanating from the natural environment. The charac-
teristics of the participant, the features of the setting, and operator management of
the activity combine to influence the tourist experience of this engagement.”
Adventure tourists are required to pay money to engage in commercial adven-
ture tourism activities. For this payment, the adventure tourism operator provides
specialized skills, knowledge, equipment, and access to a suitable location. Taking
a legal perspective, the adventure experience forms a contractual arrangement
between participant and operator, obligating the parties to legal rights and duties
(Cordato, 1999). This is important, as adventure tourists will often be exposed to
risks not routinely experienced in their everyday lives. We take up legal issues later
in this chapter; the major point stated here being that the client’s risk exposure
necessitates adventure operators to recognize and manage hazards.