Adventure Collection

What’s the state of the travel world as we enter 2010? I posed four questions to each of the leaders of the Adventure Collection companies to get their assessments of the travel industry as we start the new year. In the days to come, I’ll be posting their responses. Here is a perspective from Dennis Pinto, managing director of Micato Safaris.

1. Surveying the travel industry today, how would you compare where we are in Jan. 2010 to where we were in Jan. 2009?

There is a marked difference between January 2009 and January 2010.

The uncertainty in the financial markets discouraged travellers from making plans during the first quarter of 2009. The time between booking and departure, in our case, shrank to five months, from the usual nine months, reflecting this uncertainty. As we enter 2010, with more stability in the economy, we are seeing significant improvement in both bookings and long-term planning.

The deep discounting we saw in certain sectors, like the cruise industry, has virtually disappeared and is another indication that demand has risen.

2. Where do you think the industry is headed this year?

I can’t speak for the industry, but for travellers to Africa we are seeing more demand for all-inclusive trips where everything is taken care of. In this respect, our safaris are much like a high-end all-inclusive cruises.

We are also seeing increased demand for trips that incorporate more than just wildlife. Travellers wish a broad spectrum that also include culture, philanthropic activities, cuisine, et cetera. Having Micato companies in each of our destinations gives us the ability and flexibility to instantly tailor a trip to specific requirements right on the spot.

3. What do you think will be the emerging dominant trends in travel and particularly adventure travel this year?

Family travel remains strong. About 35 percent of our trips are family safaris — multigenerational trips usually involving three generations of travellers -– as compared to less than 10 percent a decade ago. Micato’s Family-to-Family Safari provides families with a wonderful way to reconnect and spend quality time together, while also providing many opportunities to immerse children in experiences that teach them about the importance of nature conservation, cultural appreciation and philanthropic giving. We have teams in Africa who are dedicated solely to our family trips, and they truly make these adventures a never-to-be forgotten experience.

As mentioned earlier, we are seeing an increased demand for programs that cater to our guests’ special interests and hobbies. We have a cadre of local specialists, or “insiders,” to guide these journeys and provide travellers with their unique expertise and insights. For example, “foodie” travellers will be excited to learn that in East Africa, guests can cook with a wide variety of bush chefs, fish in streams at the base of Mount Kenya for a catch which will be used in that night’s meal, and visit small-scale organic farms that are helping to create jobs and opportunities for the people of Kenya. In South Africa, of course, we visit the very best vineyards and tasting rooms of the Cape Winelands and tour Cape Town’s restaurant scene with local celebrity chef Chef Bruce Robertson.

We also have also developed special programs that cater to golf enthusiasts, runners, divers, and more.

4. What for you are the principal inspirations/reasons for people to travel in 2010?

Milestone trips are on the increase: The general feeling among our travelers seems to be that the economy will recover in time, but lost opportunities to celebrate milestones can’t be recovered —- and this seems to be propelling the trend to celebrate milestones on safari. In particular, renewing marriage vows and high school and college graduations are popular events to celebrate with an African safari. Graduations, particularly, are often combined with meaningful charitable work.

Micato’s “Bespoke Celebrations” itineraries in our 2010-2011 brochure are customized trips that cater to honeymooners, graduates, family reunion groups, and others seeking a unique, adventurous way to celebrate their milestone event. Whether it’s a group of college best friends celebrating their 40th birthday together with a trek up Mount Kilimanjaro or a high-school graduate and her family celebrating this major life transition by helping to build a library in a Nairobi slum, we can create meaningful memories that will last a lifetime.

The “See it Now” (before it’s too late!) motivation: Thanks to the efforts of environmentalists and the media, there is a heightened awareness about the plight of many of the world’s natural resources and wildlife. As climate changes and populations increase the vast open spaces teeming with wildlife cannot be taken for granted.

Conscious travellers are opting not only to “see it now” but are also researching the companies they travel with to ensure they are good stewards of Africa’s habitats and heritage. Micato Safaris has always been sensitive to environmental and cultural pressures on the areas we visit. After all, Africa is not just the place where we bring travelers, it is also the home of the founders of Micato Kenya, Felix and Jane Pinto.

We are acutely aware that our safaris take place in some of the most fragile ecosystems —- and most fascinating cultures —- in the world. We take our responsibilities to these places very seriously. Thus, we have always sought to tread lightly on the areas we travel, and to protect and promote understanding of the cultures within them.

To that end, we ensure our Safari Directors and Driver Guides are fully trained on environmental issues, and are certified by standards boards and educational entities committed to preserving the environment; have developed and maintained innovative programs to recycle and reuse; have created a comprehensive program to limit our vehicles’ impact on the environment; contribute generously to wildlife conservation programs; and provide tools for sustainable poverty relief through Micato Safaris’ non-profit arm, AmericaShare.