With growing demand for adventure travel, CNA explores why some people want to embark on a vacation which puts them at risk of injury or death.
SINGAPORE: Falling into loose rocks, sustaining minor cuts and bruises, and getting lost. This was the experience of climbing an unnamed peak in the Indian state of Manali for 24-year-old Paul Chow and his friend.
Recounting the incident, Mr Chow said he and his friend used terrain landmarks to ensure they stayed on track and were heading in the right direction - knowledge they picked up as members of the NUS mountaineering club. Mr Paul Chow resting just before climbing the final section to the summit of Mont Blanc in Europe in 2022. But altitude sickness can be deadly. Last month, adue to altitude sickness while attempting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
For Mr Chow, climbing mountains gives him a sense of achievement and fulfillment knowing that he has put his own skills into the endeavour. He added that people’s threshold for stimulation may get higher and higher, and that once they get into the activities, they will try to go for more of these experiences.
“You are facing something that might potentially be scary or risky, but you made it. During the process, you derive a sense of excitement and stimulation,” he said. “ has shown that over time, ‘adrenaline junkies’ may miscalculate or downplay the risks of risk-taking behaviours,” he added. The industry is anticipated to reach a market value of US$1,491.5 billion by 2033, growing at a rate of 16.2 per cent.
Ace Adventure Expeditions started organising treks in 2000, before becoming a travel agency in 2013. Popular travel destinations among its customers include Nepal, Taiwan and Mongolia for activities ranging from trekking to mountaineering. Currently, Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia, Mount Everest base camp trek in Nepal, Kashmir Great Lakes in India, Mount Rinjani in Indonesia, Mount Bromo in Indonesia have been popular among clients of SGTREK, said its director Vijay Kumar.Some customers who go for the Everest base camp trek do so more for their own personal achievements, rather than it being their dream trek, while treks in the Kashmir regions are more for exploring untouched areas, said Mr Vijay.
“Adventurers often seek personal growth, a sense of accomplishment, and unforgettable memories that come from pushing their boundaries in inspiring settings,” he added.REASONS FOR DEMAND AND KEEPING UP WITH IT He added that the ability to go for an adventure-themed travel experience gives people a sense of “breaking free from a sedentary life in a more extreme manner”.
Some of the main drivers behind the renewed interest in adventure tourism include a growing appreciation to explore new areas and search for new travel experiences, the increase in demand for authentic and personalised travel experiences, as well the higher income levels, especially of couples who make up 40 per cent of the market, said Mr Cassim, who teaches hospitality and tourism management.
Mr Cassim also pointed to statistics that indicate that more than 60 per cent of the revenue share from adventure tourism came from direct bookings in 2021. “This expectation is no different when it comes to adventure tourism as well,” said Mr Cassim, adding that those who consume adventure tourism products and services demand personalised service and experiences.
“One of the best places to do this is at Bukit Timah Hill, or climb the steps of high-rise buildings like one of the HDB blocks with 30 to 40 stories,” added Ms Soo. At SGTREK, the team will assess some of the participants' fitness level and advise them on the training required for each trek, said director Vijay Kumar.
Both X-Trekkers Adventure Consultant and Ace Adventure Expeditions also said they closely monitor weather conditions. He added that the guides are well-trained in wilderness first aid and are “intimately familiar” with the terrain. Mr Wong also said that he has high altitude trekking experience and knows how to spot acute mountain sickness symptoms.
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