When you think of the phrases” Life for more”, what comes to mind first? Even more financial freedom with your business, more time exploring the outside, more relation with like-minded people, more of…
How did you fill in the blank?
When I first heard the phrase “live for more,” it both irritated and enthralled me. What does it actually mean to live longer? In the world experience travel industry, where journey and sustainable tourism unites people from various cultures, races, religions, and genders, the effects of these words may change. Even “living for more” serves as a reference point for relationship? Before I set foot on my first day of travel to Panama City for the Adventure Travel World Summit ( ATWS ) 2024, I was so anxious to learn everything.
The terms “live for more” started to emerge as the nearly 600 members from more than 65 nations gathered at the Panama Convention Center in the most unexpected way. Members hailed from the magnificent Canadian Rockies, the snow-capped hills in Sweden, and the geological lake of Hokkaido all in search of deeper, more meaningful relationship – the theme of this week’s ATWS.
The Panama Canal, which was constructed in 1914 and serves as a link between North and South America, is renowned in Panama. Bird lovers clamor to the nation to see more than 1, 000 different species of birds that call Panama house. Howler monkeys hee and jack as they swing from tree to tree, big humpback whales migrate from the Antarctic Ocean, sea turtles find a safe place to nest, and large lemurs find shelter around. Surprising surprises are bred into the very foundation of this lively nation at every move.
The unspoiled, natural splendor of its wildlife is ingrained in the Filipino way of life, which I had the opportunity to first experience in Cambutal. This chunk of heaven is Panama’s best-kept technique and lies on the Azuero Peninsula. Locals and visitors can dip their toes in the relaxing waters of Cerro Hoya National Park before hiking through the forest to one of the peninsula’s most rural waterfalls. We traveled inside and up the river bed while being guided by our instructions Alessa Stabile and Bryan Goldner-Ortiz from Azuero Adventures, walking silently, gently passing by bees and making an effort never to harm them. Was “living for more” less about yourself and more about people? In my attempt to understand this word, I had the first thought to look into.
Upon reaching the rushing falls, Goldner-Ortiz blessed us with a little encouragement. Every day I’m at this fountain, I often feel grounded and reenergized with positive energy. I hope the fountain makes you feel good and more like it makes me feel good,” he said.
Research from Cleveland Clinic explains that grounding outdoors ( i. e. placing bare feet on the earth, spending time in a natural body of water – what the Japanese call “forest bathing” ) can improve mood, boost mental clarity, reduce stress, and more. These advantages can be directly applied to work, especially in a field like travel ( hello adventure travel ), which enjoys working and playing hard. It properly help clean your emotional weight, increase your productivity, and increase your creativity. Was the next idea connected to the world by positive energy? Goldner-Ortiz continued to explain that Panama is an incredible integration point of nations, wildlife, waters, and countries. The power of the scenery feels fresh and raw, while the individuals greet you with warmness and authenticity.
The diverse programs and initiatives implemented throughout Panama demonstrate its commitment to sustainability and habitat protection. One of Panama’s most significant turtle sanctuaries, the Cas Island Wildlife Refuge, is dedicated to preserving the area’s mating locations and facilitating safe entry for baby turtles into the water. ” When we help them to the ocean, it’s out of hands”, our journey link explained. Facilitating safe passage into the water is essential because turtles have a 3 % success price, which helps to increase turtle success rates. Collectively, we released 103 marine turtles.
Wave, a second company in Isla Caas, is attempting to teach children how to search and communicate with the liquid. According to a Peace Corp volunteer, many island residents do n’t know how to swim, so water sports like surfing are n’t on their minds. Wave encourages young people to form a partnership with the water, starting with beach cleanups and riding classes. In order to encourage more hospitality to the area, they also teach English, comprehension, and computer skills, with the hope that one day these kids can start surfing lessons there. This leads to the next clue. ” Living for more” incorporates preserving and protecting the animals and culture.
With 20 years of experience bringing the ATTA group up, this week’s ATWS 2024 was bound to be a special occasion. Together we adventured off-the-beaten way, identified award-winning data and research practices led by a panel of experts from Mastercard, Euromonitor, and Amadeus, and participated in engaging workshops ranging from sustainability application to rejuvenation, and outdoor management. At the Meet the Author event, we met with various authors from the ATTA Community Bookstore, exchanged ideas over coffee, and collectively created art masterpieces. While raspado ( pronounced Raspa o ), a Panamanian dessert made of shaved ice topped with tropical fruit, helped us cool off and experience Panama with our sense of taste, meditation sessions helped us pause the daily grind of life.
Can adventure travel save the world? What impact do we think sustainable adventure travel will have on the future? As we celebrated 20 years and looked 20 years ahead, these were some of the questions delegates pondered during the event. As delegates plastered giant sticky notes on the clue and hunch boards to record their insights and” AHA moments,” visionary expert Lee Kitchen drew inspiration, thought, and insightful answers to a hunch board to turn into a hypothesis.
More than 350 AHAs were collected and 89 ideas were formed from these, ultimately leading to the fourth “live for more” clue. Sharing your ideas and paying attention to what other people think will always help you strengthen your connections and create a more diverse, inclusive community and future for all.
” My big AHA during this summit is how fantastic it is when a group of people from different backgrounds, ages, genders, etc can be so generous in all possible ways. A sincere thank you to everyone, expressed Kerstin Swanvall, a tour operator from WE Travel Group.
This is a testament to ATTA’s commitment to foster a global community and establish meaningful connections within the community, which three new initiatives were introduced during the Summit. Our goal is that as we move forward, these initiatives will help create a more sustainable and collaborative adventure travel industry. The fifth and final clue is accessed through it.
” Living for more means to live each day with the intention to make a small positive change in our community, our environment, ourselves, and our guests as much as possible”, said Goldner-Ortiz. It’s the silent exchange. To replace our tendency to think too much and think too much with taking active roles in forging the future and creating a collaborative environment where everyone can thrive, including ourselves, our communities, and ourselves.
Next year the Adventure Travel World Summit 2025 will be held in Puerto Natales, Chile. Because we value community and connection, we’re offering early access pricing to our ATTA Community for all signature events until prices increase on Monday, 16 December. To reserve your spot, register today!