Communications in adventure tour products: health and safety in rafting and kayaking

Abstract

Critical incidents involving communications on health and safety issues amongst staff and clients are examined from 388 days of participant observations in 63 non-motorised waterborne adventure tours in 19 countries. Good communications were critical in maintaining client satisfaction and rescuing them from life-threatening dangers; poor communications put participants at unnecessary risk or led to dissatisfaction. Communications codes, carriers and cultural contexts were all essential aspects. Communications are an important component of adventure tourism products, and deserve further research attention. Adventure tourism provides opportunities to test communications theories under adverse circumstances.