The paper reports findings from a multidisciplinary programme of research,
the major aims of which were to determine the nature and extent of the New
Zealand adventure tourism injury problem. Analysis of hospital discharge an
d mortality data for a 15-year period identified adventure tourism-related
activities as contributing to approximately 20% of overseas visitor injurie
s, and 22% of fatalities. Activities that commonly involve independent-ungu
ided adventure tourism, notably mountaineering, skiing and tramping, contri
buted most to injury and fatality incidence. Horse riding and cycling activ
ities were identified from hospital discharge data and adventure tourism op
erators' reported client injury-incidence, as the commercial adventure tour
ism activities most frequently involved in client injuries. Falls were the
most common injury events, and a range of client, equipment, environmental
and organisational risk factors were identified. Possible interventions to
reduce injury risk among overseas and domestic adventure tourists are discu
ssed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.