-69 per cent of Aussies define adventure travel as getting off-the-beaten track and seeing something new as opposed to adrenaline activities

-Travel to the Middle East is rising in popularity, and forgotten destinations like Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Moldova, Greenland and Kazakhstan making a comeback

-Women leading the way on solo adventures, modern families one of fastest-growing groups of adventure travellers

Intrepid Travel has launched its inaugural Adventure Travel Index challenging dated stereotypes of adventure travellers and redefining the growing sector within the tourism industry.

New research proves adventure travellers aren't defined by age with all demographics choosing Peru, Cambodia, Morocco, Cuba and India to holiday in. Almost half of all Intrepid travellers go solo and most of them are female. As a nation, we no longer define adventure travel based on adrenaline activities. Forty three per cent say adventure travel is about getting off-the-beaten track and 26 per cent say it's about seeing something new.

“Adventure travel is one of the fastest growing sectors in tourism – and Australians are leading the way. As the world's largest adventure travel company, we wanted to show just how open and courageous travellers are becoming,” Intrepid Group CEO James Thornton said.

“In the past few years we have seen a lot of political and social upheaval. We believe travel can help people to be more open and curious about the world. By going outside of our comfort zones, challenging ourselves and getting off the beaten path, adventure travel can change the way people see the world,” Thornton said.                             

The Index reveals Australia's top 20 adventure travel destinations with Iceland, Croatia and China rising in popularity. Myanmar dropped from the list in 2017 as a side effect to the Rohingya crisis and the US has started to climb back in 2017 suggesting the country could be recovering from the 'Trump slump' experienced after the US election (from 20th to 18th place in 2017).

Intrepid's top ten travel trends for 2019 are outlined in the Index including the return of forgotten destinations such as Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Moldova, Greenland and Kazakhstan.

With 15 per cent of Australian families having a single parent, and multi-generation family holidays now a staple not a trend, the Index predicts today's modern families will be better catered for by the travel industry.

“Family holidays won't be exclusively marketed to the nuclear family, there will be more niche tours and bespoke options catering for solo parents, blended families and skip-gen (grandparents travelling with grandkids),” Thornton said.

Active adventures have become a way for overworked professionals to recharge their batteries. In fact, 51 per cent of Aussies choose and adventure holiday because they feel tired and stressed. Travellers taking a cycling trip with Intrepid increased 287 per cent in 2017.

The Index makes the case millennials and their younger Gen Z counterparts will drive increased demand for responsible travel. More specifically, we'll see a rise in female tour leaders in developing countries, the elimination of elephant rides in some Asian destinations and carbon-offsetting by travel companies become a hygiene factor.           

The Index shares tourism density ratios in eight destinations by comparing total visitor arrivals to permanent population. The figures help explore the themes of overtourism and undertourism and the role of responsible travel in countries such as Iceland where tourists outnumber residents by 566 per cent, or Papua New Guinea where the density ratio is just 2.5 per cent – representing an opportunity for more sustainable travel.

“For a travel company that's all about providing sustainable, experience-rich travel to the most open-minded, curious or Intrepid among us, the Index only further cements our commitment to the cause,” said Thornton.

The Adventure Travel Index combines Intrepid statistics, externally commissioned third party research, studies from Deloitte, Nielsen and a survey of local tour leaders across the globe.

For more of what's hot in adventure travel visit www.intrepidtravel.com/adventure-index.

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For images, info-graphics and video, visit:  https://intrepidgroup.bynder.com/web/5e44b1b029a1872b/intrepid-index-australia/

For more information, interviews and images please contact:

Kate Parker, Intrepid Travel

PR Manager Australia and New Zealand

E: kate.parker@intrepidtravel.com

P: 081 009 149

Heather Mollins, Seven Communications

E: heather@sevencommunications.com.au

P: 0412 421 411

About Intrepid Travel 

Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company that has been taking travellers off the beaten track to discover the world's most amazing places for more than 29 years. The company offers more than 1,200 trips in more than 100 countries and on every continent. Every trip is designed to truly experience local culture - to meet local people, try local food, take local transport and stay in local accommodation. A world leader in responsible travel, Intrepid's award-winning tour leaders, small group sizes and included activities mean they offer travellers great value for money. Intrepid Travel's founders now privately-own the Intrepid Group, a portfolio of brands that together are the largest provider of adventure travel experiences in the world. www.intrepidtravel.com