Three scholarships will help tour operators and accommodations severely impacted by the pandemic. Apply by 4 August.
The Adventure Travel World Summit is a unique opportunity for established tour operators and accommodations to seek out new partnerships and find inspiration with a collaborative group of fellow adventure travel professionals from around the world, while recovering and rebounding from the pandemic.
The annual tour operator scholarship program has been in place since 2009 and was designed to support up-and-coming tour operators by providing access to fellow industry partners who are members of the ATTA’s global network. However, because the past 18 months have been extremely challenging for the global adventure travel industry, the scholarship program was postponed in 2020 and will look a little different in 2021. Since many tour operators and accommodations have a long road to recovery, the 2021 scholarship program, sponsored by the Jordan Tourism Board, will support small global buyers and suppliers that have been in business for at least three years and have seen their revenue decrease by at least 75% to less than $250,000 in revenue in 2020. This year the program is expanding beyond tour operators for the first time, by opening up to small lodges and accommodations that offer adventure activities and were also hit hard by the pandemic.
The prizes will look a little different this year too. In 2020, ATTA launched new online courses for adventure travel businesses including tracks of multiple courses in Safety and Risk Management, Guide Training, and Business Management. Winners will receive a credit for the track of their choice to be taken at their own pace. Since the Adventure Travel World Summit is a virtual event in 2021, winners will receive tickets to attend this year’s event, as well as tickets to attend the Summit in person in 2022. To cover both Summits, winners will also receive 18 months of Business Membership in the ATTA, rather than the standard 12.
As the scholarship partner, Jordan Tourism Board is supporting the winners, so at least one winner will be from Jordan. Winners are selected by a committee that includes ATTA Advisory Board members.
If you think your organization would benefit from attending the Summit and if it will help you contribute to meaningful growth of the adventure travel industry then we encourage you to apply for a Tour Operator Scholarship. The deadline for applications is 11:59 pm (PDT) on 4 August 2021. Winners will be notified on 23 August.
Three Scholarship Winners will receive:
- A complimentary membership in the ATTA for 18 months ($900 USD value)
- One ticket to the 2021 Adventure Travel World Summit Virtual ($349 value)
- One ticket to the 2022 Adventure Travel World Summit (destination & price to be announced, estimate $1,550)
- $750 travel stipend for airfare to Summit in 2022
- Credit for one track of online courses. Choose from Guide training, Business Management, Safety and Risk Management and more. ($600+ value)
- Recovery and resilience in the face of the pandemic
- Community relief efforts during the pandemic
- Efforts to combat climate change
- Efforts to address diversity and inclusion