The history of adventure tourism.
Obviously the history is not very clear cut. It could be said that Marco Polo was the first of the adventure tourists. He was followed by Capt James Cook, Ernest Shackleton, and many other explorers. What is true is that commercial adventure tourism is a relatively new phenomenon. They have a local guide to provide a range of technical support and equipment as well as natural interpretation and cultural immersion.
The first commercial adventure tourism I could trace was an ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865 and the descent of the Colorado River in 1869. The National Geographic Society was formed in 1888 to increase and defuse geographic knowledge and the Explorers club was formed in 1904 to promote scientific exploration.
The transformation can be traced back to the United States in the 20s when two brothers built wooden rafts to explore the green river in what is known as today the dinosaur National Monument. They were the first business to secure a national park in session permit the rafting in 1953.
Today adventure stories is vibrant die manikin fast changing. Individual companies are often owner operated businesses led by entrepreneurs with the drive to share their favourite places and passions.
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Adventure tourism is big in Alaska, as you might guess. For a number of years, Kodiak fought the tourism explosion, but then were sucked in.
Cruise ships arrive regularly. Companies offering adventure trips do well. I got in on the edge of that industry for a couple of years. Had a business called "Backwoods Botany." Taught people about wild plants and took them on plant ID hikes. For two years, I took groups of young people from the "Semester at Sea" ship on plant hikes; gathered plants in plant presses; then they learned the actual biology parts when they were back on the ship. It wasn't really dangerous, but was an adventure.
