In the process of developing special events, ATP discovered a surprising number of destinations that are relatively unknown and unexplored. Lack of exposure is the common cause, often aggravated by limited financial and development resources. These destinations all have in common that they are rich in natural resources and have some fundamental structure in place to accommodate the adventure traveler. There is usually at least one, if not a small group of local people interested in improving tourist development. As is the case with Providencia, one of our Projects under Development, ATP was approached to design a promotion around the island’s unique resources. This concept is multi-faceted in its range of possibilities and can encompass

selling an Adventure Travel Promotion for the area to one or several sponsors
securing of funding for promotional efforts through public agencies and grants
selling the area as a film or advertising platform to one or more companies
soliciting the interest of a video producer or cable station

Special promotions can appeal equally to governments or tourist boards of destinations, be it areas, regions or countries. While destinations with some fundamental infrastructure geared to tourism have the advantage, developing countries lend themselves just as well to adventure tourism for the same reasons:

• The unique geographic features, cultural, historic and architectural heritage that sets one country apart from another offer opportunities for discovery
  
• The lifestyles, customs, costumes, language, religion, rituals, music, festivals, markets, arts and crafts that are indigenous to a region or country provide a new understanding and better awareness and tolerance of differences
  
• Where the infrastructure and accommodations necessary to promote mass tourism are lacking, the adventure traveler seeks to get more involved in the community and is attracted to small hostels and inns. The absence of infrastructure is exactly what make the destination appealing
  
• Small, entrepreneurial enterprises and individuals provide the resources for the adventure tourist ensuring that the tourist "dollar" feeds directly into the local economy