Adventure tourism workshop travels the province

Tourism is one of the largest industries in the world. Adventure tourism is the fastest growing portion of the tourism industry.

The Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, in cooperation with Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador, is hosting three full-day seminars entitled "Great Outdoor Adventure Workshop".

Newfoundland and Labrador has a distinct advantage with its unique adventure tourism product. This first of its kind seminar will focus on: tracking global trends; identifying opportunities within the province; and selling these products to the international marketplace.

An agenda for each meeting and a short biography for each of the speakers follows:



 8:30 a.m. -  9:00 a.m.       From Cape Chidley to Cape Race - A
                              direction for Newfoundland and Labrador.

                              Speaker - Susan Sherk, Assistant Deputy
                              Minister, Tourism, Culture and Recreation 

                              The department's plan of action for
                              developing Adventure Tourism in the
                              province.

 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.       Around the World - The Global Picture.  

                              Speaker - Richard Deacon, Manager of Sobek
                              Expeditions Inc. in Canada (the largest
                              adventure company in the world)

                              What's driving the industry on a national
                              and a global scale, and what products and
                              services adventure tourists are seeking.

10:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.       Question and Answer Period.

10:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.       Nutrition Break - Mingle and Network

10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.       The Big Sell - Part I: Packaging your
                              Product for Great Sales.

                              Speaker - Richard Deacon, Manager of Sobek
                              Expeditions Inc. in Canada

                              Developing your product for tour operators
                              and for great sales.  The hows and whys of
                              pricing your product.  What operators need
                              to know about risk and liability.

12:00 noon - 1:15 p.m.        Lunch

 1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.        The Big Sell - Part 2: Getting the Message
                              Out on Your Product.

                              Speaker - Michael Fox, World Consultant in
                              Marketing, Ecotourism & Strategic Planning
                              
                              Selling your product.

 2:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.        Question and Answer Period.

 2:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.        Selling Newfoundland and Labrador's
                              Products

                              Speaker - Andrea Peddle, Manager of Market
                              Development, Department of Tourism,
                              Culture and Recreation

                              A view of what's happening on the
                              provincial scene.

 2:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.        Nutrition Break - Mingle and Network    

 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.        True Confessions - Operating an Adventure
                              Tour Business in Newfoundland and Labrador

                              Speakers - Barb Genge, Owner-operator,
                              Tuckamore Wilderness Lodge; Rosemary
                              Gatherall, Owner-operator, Gatheralls Boat
                              Tours; David Snow, Owner-operator,
                              Wildland Tours

                              Lessons from local operators.

 4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.        Ask the Experts - Panel Discussion

                              An opportunity to ask any of today's
                              experts your questions about operating an
                              adventure tour business.

 4:45 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.        Wrap-up and Closing Remarks.

SUSAN SHERK
Susan is Assistant Deputy Minister of Tourism and Craft Development in this province. She has worked for a university, private industry and government for the past 30 years in the fields of community development, socio-economics and public affairs in both the United States and Canada. For five years she was a Commissioner with the Economic Recovery Commission in St. John's Susan was chosen by Canadian Business magazine as one of Canada's outstanding business people in 1990.

RICHARD DEACON
Richard is the Manager of Mountain Travel Sobek in Canada. Mountain Travel Sobek is the largest adventure company in the world. He has developed and marketed kayak and canoe tours in all provinces and territories, conducted river trips in Costa Rica, Peru, Chile and China, and is a nationally renowned authority on outdoor tourism and travel.

MICHAEL FOX
Michael is a world expert in the new field of ecotourism and an industry expert in the travel and hospitality industries. He has been a successful entrepreneur in several business ventures, winning awards for sales, public relations and marketing, and has published articles and award winning brochures. He has travelled extensively, visiting and doing business in more than 100 countries world wide.

ANDREA PEDDLE
Andrea is the Manager of Market Development with the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. She and her staff are responsible for identifying and expanding market opportunities for Newfoundland and Labrador tourism products. They also advise and assist the tourism industry with marketing and "selling" this province's tourism products in the market place. Andrea has presented several seminars on marketing and packaging throughout the province and is a member of the national "New Products and Packaging" Committee of the Asia/Pacific Directorate of the Canadian Tourism Commission.

BARB GENGE
Barb is respected in the outfitting industry for her high energy and good business sense. She is the sole owner of Tuckamore Lodge, Main Brook, which caters to hunting (moose, caribou, black bear) and fishing clientele throughout the world. In the past couple of years she has expanded into adventure tours and is one of the few operators in Canada who successfully caters to both consumptive (hunting/fishing) and non-consumptive (adventure) markets. She currently books adventure tourists from Spain, France, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, England, United States and is looking to markets in Brazil and Japan.

ROSEMARY GATHERALL
Rosemary, her husband Mike, and her two sons, Al and Michael, own and operate Gatherall's Boat Tours Ltd. They live in Bay Bulls, which is about 20 minutes south of St. John's. They have been in operation for nine years and according to Rosemary "are withstanding the scrutiny of a highly competitive international market place and a very discerning local market place." The services provided by Gatherall's Boat Tours include:

DAVID SNOW
David founded Wildland Tours in 1984 as a means of protecting Newfoundland's spectacular nature by showcasing it to the world. Most of the customers for his wildlife watching tours, hiking holidays and photographic safaris come from the United Kingdom, Italy and Germany. This past summer Wildland Tours had clients from as far away as Australia and New Zealand. In 1990, David was awarded the prestigious Tourism Industry Association of Canada Governor General's Award for Conservation in recognition of his dedication to promoting environmentally sustainable tourism. He has had over 100 articles published in various periodicals and is a regular speaker to environmental and natural history groups. David holds an honours degree in biology from Memorial University of Newfoundland, with a speciality in marine birds and mammals.