The Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) is thrilled to announce the launch of the highly anticipated 2024 Tour Operator Scholarship Program in partnership with the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund (ATCF) and the Jordan Tourism Board.
Since its inception in 2013, this program has been a collaborative opportunity, empowering tour operators to further their expertise, expand their horizons, and grow their network within the adventure travel industry. This year, in continuation of our longstanding commitment to fostering innovation and sustainability, we are proud to continue this tradition by awarding scholarships to another five deserving tour operators, an increased amount thanks to our collaboration with the partners.
To date, the Tour Operator Scholarship Program has awarded more than 30 scholarships, propelling recipients into a powerful community of adventure travel business leaders who have guided the industry’s direction for two decades. Winners are carefully selected through a competitive application process, and ultimately chosen by a voting committee consisting of members of the ATTA team and Board of Directors as well as representatives from both of this year’s partner organizations.
Mira Poling Anselmi, Vice President of Community at ATTA, reflecting on the journey of past scholarship recipients, shared, "The dedication and passion demonstrated by our past winners serve as a powerful reminder of the potential of adventure tourism to support conservation, communities, women and wildlife. We are continually inspired by their achievements and look forward to welcoming a new cohort of trailblazers into our community. These are the kinds of unique, impactful, small businesses that the ATTA community is known for."
This year, in an exciting new development, the Tour Operator Scholarship Program is proud to announce that as part of our collaboration with the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund (ATCF,) one ATCF grant winner will also be selected to receive a scholarship, which will include a special opportunity to share their conservation story on the global stage.
“Beyond the funding that is awarded to our grantees, the ATCF works hard to shine an international spotlight on the important conservation work these communities are doing,” said Soraya Shattuck, ATCF Executive Director. “By bringing a grantee to Panama, they will have an opportunity to not only share the progress on their conservation work, but to connect with an exclusive group of international adventure travel businesses while at the Adventure Travel World Summit.”
In addition to a year of business membership in ATTA, scholarship recipients will also receive a complimentary ticket to the event of their choice, along with a travel stipend and free access to online courses. For the first time ever, winners will have the opportunity to choose which event they wish to attend, the Adventure Travel World Summit or any regional AdventureELEVATE in 2025.
To qualify for the Tour Operator Scholarship Program, applicants must meet specific criteria. They must have been in business for at least two years, have an annual revenue under $250,000, and never before attended a Summit. Applicants will be evaluated based on their responses to questions regarding their impact and actions related to social, environmental, and economic sustainability.
Applications for the 2024 Tour Operator Scholarship Program will be open from 1 May to 17 May 2024. Tour operators from any country are encouraged to apply, regardless of current membership status. Winners will be notified by 28 June 2024.
Join us in shaping the future of adventure travel and conservation! Apply today!
