“Undertourism is the new overtourism”, Intrepid claims
Intrepid Travel has released its second annual Adventure Travel Index sharing new research, expert opinions and industry insight with all Australians.
On the company’s 30th anniversary, the index captures what adventure means to Australians in 2019 and predicts the future of one of the world’s fastest-growing industries.
Intrepid Travel CEO James Thornton said: “Travel is a litmus test of the times, and in 2019, we are writing history with the way we explore the world with more openness and curiosity than ever before.
“We are placing more value on experiences and travelling in pursuit of better health and wellness.
“We also must be cautious of the effect that travel has on the health and wellness of locals and of the destination. At Intrepid, we hold the traveller and the destination in equal respect and believe one need not be sacrificed for the other.
“Undertourism is the new overtourism”
This year builds on 2018’s inaugural Adventure Travel Index by revealing more recent tourism density ratios, with claims that ‘undertourism’ will be the new buzzword as lesser-visited countries are predicted to be the focus for sustainable travel.
Papua New Guinea has the lowest tourism density in the index, followed by the remote Tajikistan and Kenya at third place. Other notable undertourism destinations include Iran, Uzbekistan and even Indonesia.
With comment from Joseph Cheer, Professor at The Center for Tourism Research at Wakayama University in Japan (formerly based at Monash University), the index says that many countries stand to benefit from sustainable tourism done right.
There are best-practice examples throughout the index, including interviews with female tour leaders and a truck driver, who have overcome traditional gender roles in their respective countries of Morocco, India and Kenya.
The index also addresses overtourism in Japan, one of Australia’s hottest destinations in 2019, with Intrepid witnessing a 66 per cent increase in travellers visiting Japan in 2018 compared to the previous year.
Travel trends
The index travel trends throughout including families becoming more adventurous exploring India, Morocco and Egypt.
Solo travel is becoming a rite of passage according to Intrepid, with continued increase in people travelling alone with the company and support of a small group.
On the social media front, a national survey of 1000 adults reveals a third of all 18-to-24-year-olds always consider what social media content they will post from a holiday when booking a trip. They are visualising their social media feeds before they even book.
Australia’s first Travel Wellness Index
With more education on the health benefits of getting active outdoors, Intrepid is experiencing an increase in travellers joining their active adventures. Active trips have grown by 20 per cent in the first quarter of this year compared to the same time last year.
In the index, one traveller was put to the test recording their physical and mental health before and after an active adventure. The results have been compiled to create Australia’s first-ever Travel Wellness Index.
Helping travellers’ dollars go further
The index also shares new research to identify the value we place on travel as a nation and where travellers will get the best bang for their buck according to local tour leaders around the globe.
Following the popularity of 2018’s $20 Global Beer Index, Intrepid has compiled the 2019 Coffee Index for our caffeine-addicted nation.
The full Index can be viewed here.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
Adventure Travel Index intrepid intrepid travel overtourism undertourismLatest News
Collette goes off the beaten track with Canyon Country tour
To be clear TW is not advocating actually walking off the beaten track. Avoid the coyotes. Stay on the beaten track.
Intrepid & Korean Tourism Organisation team up to give agents a cooking masterclass
These guys learnt that Korean cooking is more than just putting kimchi on 2-minute noodles (as we once thought).
Winner, winner! Intrepid reveals the 9 lucky agents that won $2k
Who won the incentive? Which Intrepid trip will they spend it on? What day of the week is it again? Where am I? Huh?
Corporate Traveller reports 42% increase in Easter traffic this year
Business travellers just love Easter! Expect plenty of chocolate stained documents returning to the office on Tuesday.
Turbulent year wiped $384m off Qantas brand value: Report
Meanwhile, eating tuna at your desk can damage your own personal office brand value by several thousand dollars.
FAMIL: Room-Res & Singapore Tourism Board shows agents the Lion City’s roar
Click this article to see a man very impressed by a 20-layer chocolate cake. We're not kidding, he loved it!
Oceania Cruises offers sailors free pre-cruise hotel stay
Looking for ways to make your holidays as long as possible? Look no further.
Bonza launches new website to compliment app, agent portal
Does news about an airline's website fill you with ecstasy, glee and joy? Get your hit of the good stuff here.
MTA agents attends ‘Lunch ‘n’ Learn’ with AMA Waterways
When organising the event, Lunch 'n' Learn beat out Dinner 'n' Divulge and Breakfast 'n' Banter. Understandably so.
Travelmarvel reveals 2025 South America tours
If you spot any typos in the newsletter today it is because TW became distracted Googling images of Machu Picchu.
Tourists from 5 countries could be BANNED from visiting Australia
Anthony Albanese's immigration laws could impact tourism from certain countries.
Just how many passengers will Qantas & Jetstar hop around this Easter?
Airline workers are ready for gleeful Easter travellers! Also prepared for sticky children with chocolate on their face.
Air New Zealand gets ready for bumper Easter weekend
Air NZ gears up for travelling passengers this Easter, while TW looks to beat our egg eating record. 117 here we come!
Four Seasons Yachts reveals first itineraries to the Caribbean & Mediterranean
These trips look so good we wish there were five seasons! Alright, we'll see ourselves out...
FAMIL: Travellers Choice treats top agents to the wonders of Rotorua
This one's got plenty of famil pics and no one looks shockingly hungover in them! Clearly no TW staffers were there.
European Waterways celebrates 50th anniversary with week-long founders cruise
Plan on celebrating your 50th anniversary with a bottle of Moët and fairy bread? European Waterways has better ideas.
100th route! Jetstar celebrates the launch of Brisbane-Avalon with 12 hour sale
Jetstar knocks a ton and celebrates with a sale while TW once scored a ton and celebrated with about 17 beers.
Record-breaking year for NSW as visitor expenditure soars past $50 billion
Enjoy running round the Opera House? Be prepared to elbow even more tourists out the way.
Norwegian Cruise Line makes play for solo travellers
NCL ensuring you don't have to go trawling Tinder to find a cruise partner. Thank goodness, we were sick of catfishing.
Entire Travel Group’s Canada and Europe 2024/25 brochures are out now
Entire's new brochure is bittersweet; it both informs your clients and makes you envious of the holiday they'll take.
Malaysia Airlines adds 3 new destinations & A330neo seats
More seats means cheaper airfares and more money to spend on overpriced airport sandwiches. Woohoo!
Two divine days onboard Crystal Serenity
It's only pure serenity onboard this ship. Anxiety, agitation and anguish have been rejected by the bouncer.
How the Globus Family of Brands elevates coach touring: Travel Weekly TV with Chris Fundell
Chris' here so you don't think coaches mean peeling your thighs off a sticky leather seat every time you stand up!
The Flight Centre Foundation gears up for massive 2024 with 3 new board members
The foundation looks to invest $200k this year, spurring the TW journos to figure out how to qualify as a charity.
Barking Owl Communications to head up Anantara & Avani in ANZ
Fellow PR competitors had been barking up the wrong tree even thinking of bidding for this job!
Amex GBT to purchase CWT for $871m
It's big deals like this that get a firm handshake - hence the sore hands over at the CWT and Amex GBT offices.
1000MTG’s second global conference reminds agents to ‘strive and thrive’
Alongside messages to 'strive' and 'thrive' were those to 'survive', 'drive', 'arrive' and 'jive' (when appropriate).
Qantas A330 makes “loud bang”, pilots forced to shut down one engine
Qantas refusing to let Boeing have all the headlines in aviation world today!
GX Community Tourism Summit 2024 location revealed!
The new location has arrived and it'll blow your socks off! Time for another trip to Target for more socks then.
Visiting the destination my Mum didn’t want me to
Yet again, this journo has been a stress to his mother. Discover how this trip spurred his mother's anxiety here.
Agents come out of their shells at P&O’s turtle hatchery event
For some, it's a few glasses of bubbles to lure them out of their shell. For these agents, it was a bit more literal.
Boeing cleanout: CEO, chair to go as safety crisis plagues the manufacturer
CEOs are falling thick and fast these days. We should have started up a bingo game with their headshots in the office.
Virgin looks to swap MAX 10 order for MAX 8s amid Boeing delays: Reports
Virgin has changed its order for something smaller. Much like we have to at Maccas following a worrying doctor's visit.
Club Med unveils newest luxury yacht for 2024/25 early bird sale
This yacht is preserved for the early birds! Night Owls may also get onboard depending how late they stay up.
Abercrombie & Kent 2024 Asia Portfolio is here
Round up the family and get planning an Asia jaunt. Or, if they're hard to handle, brush them all and go it alone!
Elevate your earnings: Final days to secure double commission with Inspiring Vacations’ March offer
What could inspire you to sell more Inspiring Vacations? Double commission of course! That's all the inspiration needed.