Regulations for Adventure/Ecotourism Operations

Ecotourism and adventure tour guides follow legal and cultural regulations

Adventure and ecotourism operators must adhere to regulations in several areas of their work. Because they often operate in foreign countries, travel agencies must know and follow the rules in the places they operate tours.

Local Licensing

Tour operators who take adventurers and tourists on trips to foreign countries and remote regions must follow the permitting and licensing rules in those countries. For example, tour companies that offer visits to the Inca trail or the Himalayas are required to be registered with local governments, and and carry special permits to access remote trails and mountains.

Information to Clients

The basic minimum standards of operation for adventure tour operators says that clients must be thoroughly informed as to the scope of the trip for which they've signed up. They must provide full disclosure of what clients can expect from their tour company in terms of support and equipment. Guides must keep clients informed of their safety status and upcoming challenges.

Insurance

Many ecotourism and adventure companies have specialty liability insurance coverage for the activities in which they engage. Usually, insurance companies divide adventure tourism activities into groups with similar risk levels, training requirements and required qualifications for guides.

References

• Inca Trail Tour Operators
• Incredible India: Basic Minimum Standards for Adventure Tour Operators
• Sports-Can Insurance: Adventure Tours