Planning your adventure and ecotourism vacation

Why use the services of a professional producer?

A producer in Adventure Tourism and Ecotourism is an entrepreneur that specializes in offering one or more tourism or ecotourism activities in a natural setting. This professional and his guides offer safe adventures in the great outdoors and will supply high-quality equipment in order to make your activity completely safe and enjoyable. Using a professional’s services is the assurance that your outdoor activity will comply with all environmental guidelines, and this, in all safety. If you wish to experience a pleasurable adventure, choose a professional producer accredited by “Aventure Écotourisme Québec”.

Aventure Écotourisme Québec certified adventures mean

> Rigorous safety standards
> Specialized guides
> Quality equipment
> Liability insurance
> Thorough knowledge of the natural environment
> A rewarding experience (local guides will ensure that you get the most from the change of scener

Choosing a Professional Outfitter

All AEQ members have met or surpassed our standards during our onsite evaluations. The following 4 points will help you to make an informed decision so that you may enjoy a rewarding experience.

1- Kind of Product

What kind of activity are looking for: outdoor adventure or ecotourism, easygoing or extreme, summer or winter, land or water-based, low-end or high-end?

2- Professionalism

An outfitter’s professionalism is measured against such standards as experience, environmental impact management and the skills of its staff and guides Ask questions. Do the outfitter’s guides have the appropriate certificates to carry out the outfitter’s activities? From your very first phone call, the outfitter’s professionalism will be reflected by their courtesy, willingness to answer questions and the clarity of the information provided.

3- Security

The security of an expedition or outing depends on the outfitter’s experience, equipment quality, the guides’ abilities, a thorough knowledge of the environment and assiduous preparation. Ask questions. For example, do the guides all have CPR and first aid training? In the event of an emergency or accident, how will you be brought quickly and safely to a hospital or clinic? What is the client-guide ratio? In certain cases, upon registering, professional outfitters will ask you to fill out an evaluation form asking for information on your health, allergies, knowledge of the activity and so on. This indicates that the outfitter is consciencious and mindful about the customer’s well-being.

4- Liability Insurance

Professional outfitters should have a liability insurance policy. Not having one is a serious warning signal. It could mean that there have been too many previous claims, that they don’t take safety seriously or that they don’t meet the increasingly exacting standards of insurers.

For the full list of adventure and ecotourism activities certified by Aventure Écotourisme Québec, consult the “Select your adventure” search engine at the right of the screen.

For more information on the adventure travel safety campaign, consult "Safety matters!" on the Tourisme Québec Website.

How to plan your durable and responsible ecotourist stay? Clic here