Adventure Tourism Development Index rates top adventure destinations

by Kraig Becker on

The Adventure Tourism Development Index is a study put together by the Adventure Travel Trade Association, in conjunction with George Washington University and Xola Consulting. The joint effort examines 192 countries and ranks them based on their commitment to sustainable adventure tourism, as well as a number of other factors that influence their ability to host an adventure travel market and offer unique experience to travelers.

The ATDI uses what it calls the “10 Pillars of Adventure Tourism Market Competitiveness” to determine its rankings. Those pillars include Sustainable Development Policy, Safety and Security, Tourism Infrastructure, Natural Resources, Cultural Resources, Adventure Activity Resources, Entrepreneurship, Humanitarian, Health, and Image.

The study used a combination of surveys, gathered from top adventure travel specialists from around the planet, and quantifiable data from each of the countries to establish a list of the top adventure destinations in both the developed and developing world.

The results of the research are quite interesting, offering up some destinations that might not have seemed like viable options in the past. The top ten developing countries are as follows:

1. Slovak Republic
2. Israel
3. Czech Republic
4. Estonia
5. Slovenia
6. Chile
7. Bulgaria
8. Latvia
9. Botswana
10. Lithuania

And the top ten developed countries are:1. Iceland
2. Switzerland
3. New Zealand
4. United Kingdom
5. Australia
6. Luxembourg
7. Denmark
8. Ireland
9. Germany
10. Spain

A quick look at both lists offers some perennial favorites, especially on the rankings of the developed countries. For instance, Iceland, New Zealand, and Australia have long been top destinations for adventure travelers. The list of developing countries is far more interesting however, with long time favorites Chile and Botswana making the list. But even more important is the emergence of the Eastern European countries as increasingly viable options. That region is quickly gaining a reputation for great hiking, backpacking, and paddling destinations, with amazing scenery and fantastic cultures to explore. It doesn’t hurt that they travel in the region is very affordable and not yet over run with tourists too.

To download and read the full ATDI report, click here.

25 great adventures for 2010

by Kraig Becker on

The latest issue of National Geographic Adventure has just hit the newsstand with a special treat inside for adventure travelers looking for their next big trip. The magazine has listed its selection for the 25 best new trips for 2010, offering up suggestions of places to visit in nearly every corner of the globe.

The list is organized in alphabetical order by destination, starting with Bhutan and running through several U.S. locations as well. Each of the locations also has a tour operator associated with it, and clicking on the text will give you a more detailed description of what you can expect on your adventure.

No matter what draws you to adventure travel, you’re sure to find something on the list that appeals to you. For instance, if you’re up for a challenging kayaking adventure, head to Bhutan with Bio Bio Expeditions, where you get the opportunity to make the first descent on a previously unpaddled section of the Drangme Chhu River. Does an island adventure sound more enticing? Then plan a trip to Sri Lanka with Access Trips, where you can go surfing and mountain biking through that amazing setting. And for those who would prefer a little more rest and relaxation with their adventure, there is always the Muang La Resort in Laos which offers jungle escapes that includes luxury rooms and a deluxe spa. That trip is available through Asia Transpacific Journeys.

No one knows adventure like National Geographic, and you can bet that each of these trips will deliver in that category. With 2009 quickly coming to an end, it is never too early to start planning your own adventures for 2010, and this list is a great place to start.

Photo of the Day (7.07.09)

by Grant Martin on

We get a lot of spam email at Gadling, but the worst perpitrator is this place called Hotel Spirit, a random hotel in Bratislava, Slovakia that wont stop sending us emails every day or two. All of them say the same thing:

Cheap accommodation in attractive avant-garde hotel in Bratislava, Slovakia!

We’ve tried emailling them back, blocking IP addresses and begging for them to stop spamming us, but the emails keep coming. And coming.

Finally, our blogger Jeff White decided to stop by and see what all of the fuss was about. Passing through Eastern Europe on one of his assignments he stopped by the hotel for a look. He recalls the experience in this team email:

“I was first told that they had no rooms available. I asked how this was possible in Bratislava on a Sunday in February. It actually turned out that there was only one other person staying at the place, but that the girl at the front desk just hadn’t gotten around to cleaning any of the rooms. Funny, indeed. My physical beauty, such that it is, did not improve from the experience. The black speck in the picture is me.“

With Jeff’s passing last week we lost not only a great friend but also a person would who cared dearly about the blog and would chase down leads like this just to give the team a laugh. We’ll miss him dearly.

If Hotel Spirit gets struck with a bolt of lightning in the near future, well, it may not be a coincidence. Safe travels, Jeff White.

Newest “St. Pauli Girl” wins popular vote

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Katarina Van Derham is the newest St. Pauli Girl spokesmodel. Unlike her predecessors, the latest to carry this honor won through an online election. The people have spoken, and Van Derham will bring them their beer! The election was conducted via Maxim.com and consisted of four finalists. The competition was fierce, but one look makes it clear that beer goggles will not be necessary in 2009!

Van Derham is a native of Slovakia and grew up in a small village in the woods – a story that seems to add to the mystique. More than just a pretty face, she speaks five languages and bears a striking resemblance to the young lady on the bottle’s label. As a result, she is now the 26th person to carry the responsibility of being the world’s hottest ambassador of malted beverages. “Being named the 2009 St. Pauli Girl means the world to me,” said Van Derham. “I am very honored and look forward to meeting St. Pauli Girl fans all over the country.”

The latest beer gal moved to the United States when she was 22 years old and had no intention to become a model. As a waitress in Los Angeles, though, she caved to the peer pressure four years later, and the rest, as they say, is brewing history. Van Derham became a U.S. citizen last year and voted for the first time in the U.S. presidential election in November. Now, in addition to modeling, she works in web design for an architectural graphic design firm.”

Let’s all welcome her into our hearts … and stomachs!

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[Photo via St. Pauli Girl]

Photo of the Day (9-24-08)

by Jamie Rhein on

I picked this photo because it encapsulates the very points that makes travel so incredibly interesting. It’s those details that make you shake your head and say, “What were they thinking?” And you have no idea what they were thinking because people don’t always think alike. What makes sense to the people who live in a particular country can seem stupid to those not from there–or at least nonsensical–except that it could make sense. Kind of.

According to Damiel who took this picture, this billboard is on the hotel building where he was staying in Bratislava. His room is behind the letters “o” and “u” in “navigáciou.” I wonder if that means that he could look out through the “o” and the “u”? Or were the windows covered over? Either choice seems odd.

If you have a photo you’d like for us to consider for Photo of the Day, send it our way at Gadling’s Flickr Photo Pool.

By the way, I’m dedicating this Photo of the Day to my fellow Gadling bloggers. It’s an inside joke.