Adventurous travellers 'want more from their holidays'

A growing number of people are heading out on adventure holidays as an alternative to the traditional beach break, it has been claimed.

Ian Bradley, a spokesperson from the Association of Independent Tour Operators, commented that many British people are working hard for the rest of the year, so do not want to feel as if they are doing nothing on their holidays.

"People are feeling that they want to be more active on holiday rather than just purely relaxing on the beach or just doing a city break. They want to feel like they are maybe learning a new skill or […] seeing wonderful places around the world," he remarked.

Mr Bradley added that these holidaymakers could have a better opportunity for socialising since a lot of activity holidays are group-based.

Recent figures from research company Mintel stated that activity holidays are now comfortably outperforming the overall travel market.

By the end of 2008, this type of break is expected to account for almost one in eight holidays taken by Britons, up from one in ten in 2003.

The organisation claims that holidays are becoming more frequent and they are increasingly dedicated to special interests and activities, including safari trips and nature-watching breaks.