With the arrival of the terrible Covid-19 pandemic at the beginning of this year 2020, the world economy has suffered a huge setback, especially in strategic sectors such as tourism. The impossibility of traveling or the limits that have been imposed on certain massive activities have been a fatal blow for a sector that moves, in many countries, the greatest amount of money within the tertiary sector. Tourism is the active engine in many places, since it not only generates money and work directly, but also indirectly. And that, in the end , has been tremendously affected by the restrictions of the pandemic . It was curious to see, however, that while traditionally tourist areas on the coasts and large cities were mortally wounded by this pandemic, other rural areas picked up the baton and became interesting destinations for tourists .
We speak of inland places, in the mountains, in the mountains , or smaller cities, where tourism is taken differently, and not in such a massive way as on the coast or in the large capitals. In these places , tourism is related to nature, to culture at a more local level, to doing outdoor activities that have to do with the environment. This is how active tourism has become the new boom within the sector, in the post-Covid era. The truth is that in recent years a paradigm shift was already taking place, and many active and rural destinations were beginning to stand out even above the traditional coastal ones. Today, active tourism represents a very important part of the sector. And here we are going to explain why.
What is active tourism
The definition of active tourism varies depending on the source we consult. Some consider that active tourism is any activity that takes place outdoors. For others, however, it is more precisely linked to doing physical activities such as adventure sports , or simply hiking and walking along nature trails. The fact is that active tourism always calls for action, that is its main characteristic.
People enjoy this tourism because they want to do things, activities of all kinds, and not simply visit a city to see its streets, or go to the beach to lie on the towel in front of the sea . Active tourism is closely related to nature, to rural tourism , because it takes advantage of the benefits of this type of destination to offer an interesting alternative to traditional tourism.
Active tourism activities
Within the category of active tourism we can find numerous activities, ranging from the most intense, such as bungee jumping or rafting in a natural environment, to the contemplative and quieter ones, like taking a walk through a natural park to enjoy its views.
Active tourism also has to do with doing themed tours , where we visit certain important places for history or religion, for example, and learn more about them. Any activity that requires physical effort , even if it is simply walking, can be considered as active tourism, since we are doing activities, not simply resting or letting time pass.
Tips before practicing it
Going anywhere for active tourism, especially on weekend getaways , has become very common in recent times. Tourists feel safer in these natural, open and spacious environments, instead of going to crowded cities where today there is much more danger of contagion. We can choose a destination by itself, although the usual thing is to find a suitable place for the activity that we want to develop .
For example, climbing or canyoning. Obviously we will have to prepare well for it, wear the right clothes and shoes, choose a weekend with an acceptable time to be able to carry out this activity outdoors. The ideal is to choose a place where you can enjoy not one, but several activities during that couple of days.
Places where you can practice it
The rise of active tourism has allowed many rural environments to take advantage of their potential in this sector, through walks, adventure activities, oenology, gastronomy … Practically in any region we find this type of place, but it is true that, due to their special geological characteristics, there are sites that have achieved special success in this sector.
In the north of the country we find places with ravines, rivers, forests and very complete natural spaces, with also spectacular views, which work perfectly for this type of tourism. If we also add the gastronomic offer, the pack would be complete, and the experience would be totally intense.
Active tourism companies
As is often the case, when there is a demand for a type of service, companies are often dedicated to carrying it out, offering it in a professional manner. Active tourism companies have abounded in recent years, especially in those places where this type of activity can be done better. From companies specialized in adventure sports to those that teach natural spaces and carry out all kinds of routes on the trails of this type of environment.
Hiring the services of one of these companies is very useful, and in many cases even essential, to be able to carry out that activity that we have in mind , since we are going to need liability insurance and take all the measures security possible.