Travel Agent - March 31, 2008 - (Page DS1) dive travel: Fast-Growing Market Selling Essentials Today, the dive travel market is one of the hottest growing niche markets in travel. While the total number of certified divers is unknown, estimates range from between 1.6 and 2.0 million divers worldwide. “Approximately a million divers are certified in the industry each year, between new certifications and continuing education courses,” says Randy Shaw, a training manager at the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI), an international scuba training agency. Have Fins, Will Travel Active divers are very avid travelers and practically all divers, like skiers, must travel to enjoy the best diving. Today the exploding popularity of scuba diving is a force that can no longer be ignored by travel agents. The great part of selling dive travel is that there’s the perfect destination for every diver. Diving encompasses a range of age groups from the “Sea Hunt”inspired mature travelers to the Boomers of the Jacques Cousteau era to children who were raised on “The Little Mermaid” and “Finding Nemo.” From the popular “Shark Week” on the Discovery Channel to movies with underwater action and the lure of buried treasure, scuba diving has become a mainstream passion as families, couples and singles set their sights on destinations with great diving. Photo courtesy of Fiesta Americana Cozumel Dive Resort LEARN AND EARN: DIVE PAYS DIVIDENDS Associate Publisher: Peter Gatt Senior Managing Editor: David K. Moseder Senior Project Manager: Ken Grant Project Designer: Nicole Alleyne Web Developer: Arthur Yoe Contributing Editor: Lorry Heverly Production Director: Marilyn Hiris Group Publisher, Travel Agent Media Group: Kerry J. Cannon, Jr. Travel Agent Custom Solutions is a division of Questex Media, 757 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10017. © 2008. All rights reserved. Although every effort has been made to guarantee the accuracy of information appearing within this supplement, we cannot be responsible for typographical errors, omissions or changes since this publication went to press. Take advantage of one of the most potentially lucrative niche travel markets by learning how to fi nd target clients, how to sell to them, where to send them, and other essential information. This Dive Specialist course from Travel Agent University is designed to get you started with the basics, including tips on selling and a sampling of the dive vacation product in several key regions to match up with the needs and desires of your clients. Take the course and pass the Final Exam at www.tauniv.com (where you can also opt to take the entire program online) and you’ll receive a Dive Specialist diploma and be better equipped to profit from this lucrative market segment. Plus, graduates are automatically entered into a drawing for one of three $100 gift cards. Inside More Essentials 2 Caribbean 4 Mexico 8 Pacific-Asia 12 A TRAVEL AGENT UNIVERSITY PROGRAM DIVE SPECIALIST 1 http://www.tauniv.com
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