niche on tour

What is niche tourism and why is it so popular?

Disclaimer: Some posts on Tourism Teacher may contain affiliate links. If you appreciate this content, you can show your support by making a purchase through these links or by buying me a coffee . Thank you for your support!

Niche tourism is a term that I hear a lot these days. But what is niche tourism? Well, the truth is that it isn’t any one tourism type, rather it is a collective term used to group a number of types of tourism. It is an umbrella term .

Confused? Don’t be! It’s actually very simple, and in this article I will explain why….

What does the term ‘niche’ mean?

What is niche tourism, macro and micro niche tourism, niche tourism definitions, why has niche tourism become popular, advantages of niche tourism, disadvantages of niche tourism, examples of niche tourism, further reading.

Before we can understand what niche tourism is, we first need to understand what is meant by the word ‘niche’.

Niche (pronounced NEE-SH in the UK and NITCH in the US), refers to an area or position that is suitable for a small group of people.

As an adjective, niche can refer to a number of things, including:

In the context of tourism, niche is referring to products, services or interests that are shared by a small group of people.

Niche tourism is the umbrella term covering a range of types of tourism . Niche tourism products and services serve a specialised segment of the tourism industry.

Niche tourism is the antithesis of mass tourism . It is the opposite of large group tours, all-inclusive holiday resorts and overtourism .

Other terms that identify similar, small market segments include alternative tourism and special interest tourism .

Essentially, niche tourism identifies forms of micro (small) tourism.

As demonstrated in the diagram below, niche tourism itself can be categorised as a macro (i.e. big) type of tourism. Within this, a number of smaller tourism types can be identified. These are micro forms of tourism.

The list of micro tourism forms listed here is not exhaustive. For a more comprehensive list, take a look at my article on the different types of tourism .

The term niche tourism hasn’t been around that long. In fact, before the 1990s niche was most commonly used to describe marketing (Robinson & Novelli, 2005).

Definitions have evolved from the concept of niche marketing, so I think that it is useful to look first at how the term niche marketing is defined.

According to Toften and Hammervoll (2009), niche marketing can be understood as a focus on a limited market, which is generally considered to be appropriate for small or specialised businesses.

Stanton, Etzel, and Walker (1991) define niche marketing as ‘a method that meets customer needs by developing products and services especially suited to small markets’.

And Kotler (2003) describes niche marketing as a focus on clients who demonstrate a specific set of needs, available to pay a higher price to companies best suited to supply their demand for goods and services.

The most comprehensive text on the niche tourism phenomena was published in 2007 by Robinson and Novelli (2007). This book introduced us to the concept, outlining the notions of macro and micro tourism that I outlined earlier. In their book Robinson and Novelli outline a variety of different examples of niche tourism. Whilst, more than twenty years have passed since this publication, it still remains largely valid and useful, although there are now a wider range of tourism forms than there were at the time of writing.

More recently, in 2005, Novelli described niche tourists as independent travellers choose specialised activities to engage with social life and to become cosmopolitans.

Taking all of this into consideration, niche tourism can be defined as ‘an umbrella tourism form, which identifies macro and micro tourism segments appealing to a specific group of travellers’.

Niche tourism has grown in popularity a lot in recent years.

This growth is owed to the way that we have changed as consumers. People have become more sophisticated in their wants and needs. We know what we want and that’s what we want. The ‘one size fits all’ traditional package tourism model no longer suits.

Around the globe people have become more globalised and more educated. We want more than a nice pool and some evening cocktails from our holidays.

People want education and culture and adventure. And we can access these things through niche tourism provision….

I would love to share some figures with you to demonstrate this, but studies tend to focus on the macro or micro tourism forms, as opposed to niche tourism as a group. But hopefully you’ll take my word on that one!

Niche tourism is often viewed as being a more positive form of tourism than mass tourism. This is because it generally involves smaller numbers of tourists who (usually) leave less of a footprint. In fact, it is often associated by sustainable tourism and responsible tourism (rightly or wrongly).

Some of the advantages of niche tourism are:

• It is less damaging on the environment
• Tourists come in smaller numbers
• Tourists tend to be more courteous and respectful
• Niche tourists often pay more than mass tourists
• There is a genuine interest in the local area and people

Of course, these advantages are not a given. It is impossible to generalise such a broad group of tourism types!

There are also disadvantages of niche tourism. The main issue is the small size of businesses and an inherent over reliance on tourism.

Some of the main problems commonly noted are:

• A lack of alternative revenue streams
• Too many visitors are attracted
• Niche businesses take business away from elsewhere
• Some niches are not environmentally friendly, such as golf tourism.
• Small visitor numbers means that the economic benefits are limited
• Niche tourism activities can come in and out of ‘fashion’ and popularity

Ultimately, it is careful tourism planning and sustainable tourism management that will reduce any negative impacts of tourism. Therefore, it is actually a misconception that niche tourism is better than mass tourism. This statement is unfounded and is totally depends on the type of tourism that is in question.

There are many examples of niche tourism around the world.

Below I have listed some of the most common types of niche tourism. I’ve written in depth articles about many of these- click on the links to learn more!

• Adventure tourism
• Ancestry tourism
• Couchsurfing
• Cruise tourism
• Cultural tourism
• Dark tourism
• Disaster tourism
• Educational tourism
• Enclave tourism
• Food tourism
• Health tourism
• Homestay tourism
• Insta tourism
• Pro-poor tourism
• Rural tourism
• Sex tourism
• Slow tourism
• Smart tourism
• Space tourism
• Sustainable tourism
• Volunteer tourism
• Virtual tourism
• Bike-packing

If you are interested in learning more about this important industry, I recommend the two texts outlined below.

Niche Tourism: Contemporary Issues, Trends and Cases- provides an integrated picture of speciality/niche tourism as a whole looking at both the ‘macro’ and ‘micro’ niche area. It has a comprehensive theoretical framework, and discusses initiatives, policies and strategies adopted internationally. With an emphasis on linking theory to practice, it is underpinned by up-to-date international case studies from around the world.

The Long Tail of Tourism: Holiday Niches and their Impact on Mainstream – The ‘long tail’ of holiday offerings implies dramatic shifts in the sector’s concentration levels and its competitive dynamics. In order to examine the applicability and validity of this scenario, a number of key holiday niches are examined in terms of their demand development, supplier landscapes, operational challenges and future potential.

Liked this article? Click to share!

• Host Agencies
• Accelerator Course
• Travel Jobs
• Travel Agent Chatter
• Etiquette & Rules
• Privacy Policy

Find a Travel Niche: A Step-by-Step Guide

I am a HUGE advocate of agents finding a travel niche. I push for it for multiple reasons—one of which is that having a niche makes it easier to find a host agency  that fits your needs (one of the main points of my site). If that didn't get your tail wagging in excitement, I'm sure the fact that having a travel niche makes it easier to grow your agency—allowing you to make more money—will do the trick. 😊

Repeat after Me: A Travel Niche Isn't Scary.

With internet competition, being an expert helps you differentiate.

Do me a favor. When you think niche, don't get all stressed and think it needs to be something off-the-wall like scholar tours to medieval battle sites.  Your travel niche doesn't need to be complicated or rare (but it can be). Niche travel can mean you're specializing in a certain demographic, a type of travel, a destination, or any other number of things.

Put simply, having a travel niche means you put boundaries on what you sell. It can be a broad niche (luxury travel) or a niche with a narrow focus (educational tours for ESL students). You can't be an expert on everything, so narrow it down and decide what you will be an expert on. With internet competition, being an expert helps you differentiate.

Passion. Passion. Passion!

Finding a piece in the niche travel pie isn't as hard as you might think. With the millions of hobbies, destinations, and types of travelers there are possibilities abound. The key to finding a successful niche for your agency is making sure it's not only a niche but that your heart is into it.

With the millions of hobbies, destinations, and types of travelers the possibilities are abound.

I started a side business earlier in my career. It had great potential, yet it flopped. There was demand, no competition, and I had relationships with my potential buyers. So why did it flop? In hindsight, it's obvious—I didn't have the passion for it. That was a big lesson for me.

When you choose a travel niche, look beyond if there is a market and how much competition you face. Don't forget to make sure you have an undying passion for that niche.

Need a little inspiration? Take a listen to our podcast ( listen to more episodes ) with Boutique Japan and how they found their niche:

Or hear about how a former WestJet employee changed his love of aviation into a travel agency that only sells air while charging a $60-500 CAD ticketing fee per ticket.

DeJuan Shorter, travel advisor and owner of The Timely Traveler, stumbled on his niche: sabbatical travel. Take a look at how that happened in the video below:

Or what about Molly Williams, CEO of The Optimists Travel, who, when she decided it was time to get off the road and settle down at home to start her family, started a travel agency focused on moving bands and their crews across the US and the world during their tours?

Examples of Travel Niches

We had a great idea come in from an advisor taking our 7 Day Set Up program ! Here we have this great article and even a freak'n brainstorming exercise for you... but we don't give examples of any of the common niches in the travel industry. #fail

So, I'm happy to announce, with the help of a 7DSer, we finally got smart. In fact, we took it a step further to create an entire pdf list of niche examples, under some umbrella categories. Is it exhaustive? No. But will it get your niche gears going? I sure hope so! Just click below on the image to download it!

Use these as a guide but don't feel like you have to be limited to these by any means. Remember, this is YOUR business and you get to design it the way you believe is best!

Finding a Travel Niche—A Brainstorming Guide

How in the world can you find your travel niche? Don't worry, I've got a little How to Find a Travel Niche Worksheet to help you. We're going to go over how to do the worksheet below but if you'd like an example, you can also download our completed sample worksheet to see how we did it.

Want to fill one out for yourself? You can download HAR's "Find a Travel Niche Worksheet" below! (If you're drawing a blank, don't worry. We go through the worksheet step by step to help get your brain revving with ideas.)

Below you can subscribe to get HAR's niche worksheet PDF! Just enter your info and it will land in your inbox in a jiffy (new subscribers will need to confirm their subscription, first!).

Below we chat through the worksheet's steps to help get your creativity flowing.

Step 1: Brainstorming Your Travel Niche

Here's a little fodder to help fuel ideas for each of the columns in the worksheet:

Hobbies Column

We already discussed that passion was key to a successful niche. This column helps identify what you love to do, your strengths, and where you're considered an expert already.

• What are you passionate about? (e.g. politics, gymnastics, stitching)
• What do you have in-depth knowledge of? (e.g. wines, gardening, fishing, maritime history)
• What are you good at? (e.g. cooking, stand-up comedy, building rockets) 
• What do you do in your free time? (e.g. genealogy, write, read wedding magazines)

Write down all answers that come to mind without passing judgment. That means adding underwater basket weaving without questioning if it's a passion or just a fad. (Though we really hope it's a fad.)

Network Column

You can be successful without a network but it's much harder since you have to build trust and establish your expertise. Utilizing the networks you already have in place—or ones you can easily break into—is going to save you a lot of time, energy, and money. The most successful agents have an existing network that they were immediately able to market to. This column helps you recognize your connections.

What business networks do you belong to? (e.g. BNI, union, boards)

• What events have you attended recently? (e.g. PTO meeting, tweetup, dog training class)
• What are the common hobbies of your friend groups? (e.g. Hiking, golfing, drinking, scuba diving)
• What groups do you belong to? (e.g. Cancer support group, ski club, bible study) 
• What groups/networks do your close family/friends belong to? (e.g. Your kids, partner, parents, neighbors)

Another one to check out is your FB network. And I've got sad news for you here. It used to be a lot easier to map connections but FB made a change to their API in early 2015 that doesn't allow APIs to pull data on your friends. 🙁 It was SO much easier before! But here's how you can do it manually: 

Manually go through FB friends:  

Tedious, I know. You can either look through your friend list on FB or you can download the data. How do you download your Facebook friends?

• Make sure you are logged in to your Facebook account.
• Click on the “Account” profile pic icon at the top right portion of your screen.
• Go to >>> “Settings & Privacy” then go to >>> "Settings"
• This will bring you to "General Account Settings." From here you click on >>>"Your Facebook Information" (this is below "General Account Settings" on the left)
• On this page, you'll go to >>>"Download Your Account Information ."
• Once you're on this page, you need to enter a date range at the top of the page. From here you can select what info you want to include in your download. For the purposes of this exercise, I recommend at the very least:
• Collaborations
• Friends & Followers
• Once you've made all the selections you want to download, click on the button at the very bottom of the screen >>> "Request Your Download." Once your file is ready, they will send you a notification (mine only took a minute to create).

There are a ton of options for what you can include in your download! It nothing else, it will refresh your memory on groups, hobbies, events, and individuals you've been connected to in the past that may not be top of might!

Destinations Column

Since a travel niche can be a certain destination, this will help uncover any themes in what type of destinations you like.

• Of the places you've been to, what are your favorites?
• What places are you dying to see?
• What do the destinations you listed above have in common? (e.g. castles, weather, good food)

Since we're all travel lovers, this one can get long. If it does, don't worry. Write them all down now and you can go back and group them into common themes later.

Type of Travel Column

This one is a bit harder to explain. I like to think of it as the icing on the cake. It's just another way to discover what type of travel you enjoy and add that as an element to your niche. Consider these questions:

• Is there a particular demographic you'd like to sell to? (e.g. families/groups, seniors, music lovers)
• What price tag would you feel comfortable selling? On this one, don't be afraid to push your comfort zone. Many agents make the mistake of pushing their spending habits on their clients. (e.g. luxury, bargain)
• What type of travel do you enjoy? (e.g. adventure, all-inclusive, tours, groups, independent)

Whew! You're done. Time to take a little break. Come back in 2 days with a fresh mind and run through it again—you'll be surprised what a few days of sitting on it can do for new ideas.

Step 2: Connecting the Dots to Find Your Travel Niche

Now that you've got your list you're going, it's time to take a look and circle the top 3 hobbies and top 3 destinations you're most passionate about.  Don't worry if you have more or less, you can always adjust this next step to work with your chosen hobbies/destinations.

On page 2 of the Finding Your Travel Niche Worksheet, we'll be focusing on actual niche possibilities. Typically, they will come from one of your hobbies and/or destinations. We've created a nice little template on page 2 for you to put your top hobbies and destinations. Each hobby and destination you circled gets its own box. You'll be filling in each box with relevant list items that you have on page 1.

I found it easiest (and more fun!) to cut out the boxes so I could easily move them around. Specifically, I would take one box at a time to work on, place it on page 1 and go down my lists to see which items fit with that box's hobby or destination. If you're working on a hobby, take a look at the Destinations column first. If your box is for a destination, start with the hobby column.

To start, you're looking for connections between your columns. The common factor between those columns is they're all driven by some sort of passion—a must to be successful. Write down the topics that fit together well in your Niche Possibilities boxes. 

Warning: Some of your topics may just never pan out. You can always come back if inspiration strikes on something you thought was a dead end. For me, I could not think of a way to incorporate my love of dogs into a travel niche I would enjoy. Finding dog-friendly hotels around the US or learning the rules of moving dogs around? No thanks.

Narrowing it Down Even Further

Once you've put together some possibilities from your hobbies and destinations columns, you're going to add your travel type column into the mix. This narrows the funnel even more. Does your current list of hobbies/destination groupings fit into the type of travel you want to sell? For instance, my ski hobby and cold weather destinations fit well with my love of adventure and group travel.

Don't feel that you can only pick one item from each column. You can mix and match with multiple topics from each column to create your travel niche.

If you can't find an obvious fit, look for a way to customize it to fit your passions or set it aside.

One last thing. Don't feel that you can only pick one item from each column. You can mix and match with multiple topics from each column to create your travel niche. You could have adventure travel for groups and singles to a certain destination. Or trips for women-only to multiple destinations. It's up to you.

The Final Test

The hope is that since your circles in life are usually based on common interests, you'll have some networks already in place—people who see you as the expert for your niche.

Your possibilities should be looking great. Mouth-watering, actually. Now the final test to see if this is a realistic possibility is to think about how easy it's going to be to find clients. You want to find out if you have an existing network to tap into. So let's take a look at your network column.

The hope is that since your circles in life are usually based on common interests, you'll have some networks already in place—people that see you as the expert for your niche or participate in your hobby with you.

If you do find some networks that work, write them in the box.

If you don't have a network, all is not lost. Having an existing network helps tremendously but not having one shouldn't deter you. Brainstorm ways you can break into that niche's target market. Don't forget to check the InMap and Facebook Map we discussed above to find people that may be able to open up doors for you.

Your Niche List

As I started filling in the boxes I would think of other ideas that weren't originally on my lists but I thought would really fit in well with that box. Don't be afraid to add them! That's the best part of brainstorming, you never know where it's going to lead!

This worksheet should leave you with a decent list of travel niche possibilities. And not just any travel niches, but well thought out niches that fit your personality and that you believe in. If you had a really hard time narrowing your list down to just 3 hobbies and 3 destinations, or maybe you had 5 destinations that most interested you, don't worry. Print off as many copies of page 2 as you need but remember, the point of this exercise is to narrow it down to those you are most passionate about!

Next up, you need to sit down and decide which travel niches are most feasible, work with your lifestyle, and start doing some competitive intelligence! Maybe it's time to choose a travel agency name ? Or learn more about starting a travel agency from home?

Need More Guidance Starting an Agency?

Finding a niche is just one piece of a very complex puzzle of starting an agency. If you're wanting more help nailing down a niche to help get your agency off the ground, check out HAR's new course on starting an agency, The 7 Day Set Up Accelerator Course .

The course is written and taught by yours truly and Bridget Lee, a professional educator with deep roots in the travel industry. Maybe you notice a last name similarity? We're sisters and we both came up in a family that is deeply rooted in the industry. Check it out !

Congrats—you made it through! I hope I encouraged you to find a travel niche for your travel agency and led you through how to find one you love. When starting up, it's easy to fall prey to the "I'll take any booking I can get" mentality and avoid a niche. Start strong and know exactly what your business is and where you want to go with it. Good luck and let me know what travel niche you end up with!  Find me on  Facebook ,  LinkedIn and Instagram .

Photo Credit:  Jniceliem

[Editor's note: This post was originally published Aug. 14th, 2012, and was updated on publish date listed.]

About the Author

Steph grew up in the travel industry, helping on and off with her mom's homebased travel agency. She has worked with thousands of agents in her role as a former host agency director before leaving in 2012 to start HAR. She's insatiably curious, loves her pups Fennec and Orion, and -- in case you haven't noticed -- is pretty quirky and free-spirited.

If you’re looking for Steph, she leaves a trace where ever she goes! You can find her on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn (her fav) and Pinterest as 'iamstephly'. 🙂 You can also catch her on her Substack, Bumblin' Around, where she writes on things outside the world of HAR.

• Travel Agent Basics

How to choose a travel niche: Exploring niche tourism in the travel Industry

• June 2, 2023

Niche markets in the travel industry are specialised segments that cater to specific interests, demographics, or travel styles. They help businesses in the industry target their offerings and better cater to their customers’ needs.

This article aims to explore the concept of these niche markets. It seeks to illustrate how they function, their increasing popularity, and their role in shaping the future of tourism. 

What is niche tourism?

Niche travel and niche tourism refer to specialised travel experiences catering to a specific interest, activity, or demographic group. Rather than offering broad, one-size-fits-all travel experiences, niche tourism providers deliver tailored services and packages to accommodate their target market’s unique preferences and needs. This can encompass numerous specialisations, from adventure or eco-tourism to wellness, cultural, and food tourism.

Importance of choosing a travel niche

Choosing a travel niche is important for both travel providers and travellers for several reasons:

• Customer satisfaction: Tailored services and packages increase the likelihood of customer satisfaction as they align more closely with individual interests and expectations
• Market differentiation: In a highly competitive industry, carving out a niche allows businesses to distinguish themselves from competitors, positioning them as experts in a particular area
• Increased loyalty: Niche travel experiences can foster increased customer loyalty, as customers who have had their specific needs and interests met are more likely to return
• Sustainable business growth: Focusing on a niche can help travel providers achieve sustainable business growth. They can better understand their market, streamline their offerings, and refine their marketing strategies, leading to more efficient operations and stronger customer relationships
• Enhanced experiences for travellers: Choosing a niche allows them to have more personalised and enriching experiences. They can immerse themselves more deeply in their interests and activities, resulting in more fulfilling journeys

Understanding niche travel

Niche travel is hugely significant for both travellers and travel industry providers for several reasons:

• Personalisation: Niche travel allows for customised experiences that cater to specific interests, creating a more personalised and enjoyable travel experience
• Expertise: Niche travel companies often have a high level of expertise in their particular area, enabling them to provide  in-depth experiences and knowledge
• Community: Travellers with shared interests can form a sense of community, enhancing their overall travel experience

Differentiating niche travel from mainstream tourism

Niche travel and mainstream tourism differ in several key aspects:

• Broad vs Specialised: Mainstream tourism caters to a wide audience and typically includes popular destinations, attractions and experiences. Niche travel, on the other hand, is specialised, targeting a specific demographic, interest, activity or offbeat destination
• Mass market vs Personalised: Mainstream tourism is often mass-market-oriented with broad appeal, whereas niche travel focuses on delivering personalised experiences
• Generic vs Unique: Mainstream tourism often offers generic, one-size-fits-all experiences. In contrast, niche travel focuses on unique experiences tailored to the specific interests or needs of the traveller

Exploring the concept of experiential and specialised travel

Experiential and specialised travel, often considered a subset of niche travel, prioritises unique, immersive experiences:

Experiential travel

This form of travel prioritises personal and unique experiences over sightseeing. The goal is to immerse oneself in the local culture, meet the locals, and engage in activities characteristic of the destination.

Specialised travel

Specialised travel focuses on a specific interest or activity, such as wine tasting, skiing, horse riding, cooking, yoga, dancing, wildlife photography, or yoga retreats. These tours are typically led by experts in the field and offer a deep dive into the particular interest.

In both experiential and specialised travel, the emphasis is on creating meaningful, personal experiences rather than just visiting a destination.

Benefits of choosing a travel niche

There are many benefits to be gained from choosing a travel niche to focus on. 

Personal fulfilment and passion-driven travel experiences

Choosing a travel niche allows for deeply personal, fulfilling experiences that cater to one’s passions and interests. A culinary enthusiast may opt for food tourism, for example, immersing themselves in the local cuisine of different regions, thereby enriching their gastronomic knowledge and skills. The connection between personal passion and travel provides a unique, deeply satisfying experience that extends beyond typical sightseeing.

Building expertise and becoming an authority in a specific area

When individuals or businesses focus on a travel niche, they can develop in-depth knowledge and understanding of that area, becoming experts in that field and enhancing their reputation and credibility. For instance, a travel agency specialising in eco-tourism can accumulate a wealth of knowledge about sustainable travel practices and destinations, setting them apart from generalist competitors.

Targeting a specific audience and creating unique travel offerings

Choosing a travel niche allows businesses to target a specific audience with unique travel offerings. This specificity can aid in designing marketing campaigns and packages that speak directly to a defined group’s interests, needs, and expectations, thereby improving the effectiveness of marketing efforts. For example, a company with a niche in adventure tourism can tailor its offerings to thrill-seekers and outdoor enthusiasts, providing experiences that general travel agencies might not offer.

Opportunities for collaboration and networking

Focusing on a travel niche opens opportunities for collaboration and networking. Businesses can collaborate with other organisations, cross-promote each other, and engage with influencers or thought leaders to enhance their visibility and credibility. For example, a travel agency focusing on wellness tourism might partner with yoga studios or wellness coaches to offer retreats or workshops, enhancing their services and strengthening their network.

Identifying niche markets in the travel industry

Adventure and outdoor travel.

Adventure and outdoor travel cater to individuals who crave physical activity, exploration, and nature-based experiences. It’s a broad category that can include anything from mountain climbing and hiking to off-the-beaten-path tours and camping in remote locations. Adventure travel can also involve paragliding, rock climbing, or white-water rafting, appealing to thrill-seekers and those hunting an adrenaline rush.

Culinary and food tourism

Culinary and food tourism is all about exploring a region’s culinary traditions and food culture. This type of travel involves food tours, cooking classes, wine tastings, and farm-to-table experiences. Culinary tourism allows travellers to dive deep into local food scenes, taste authentic dishes, and learn about the history and tradition behind regional cuisines.

Wellness and spa retreats

Wellness and spa retreats focus on relaxation, self-care, and holistic experiences. This market includes yoga retreats, meditation workshops, spa treatments, and other health-oriented activities that aim to rejuvenate the body, mind, and spirit. Wellness retreats often occur in serene environments such as beach resorts or mountain lodges, offering travellers an escape from their daily routine and stress.

Cruise travel

Cruises are a popular niche market that offers unique sea experiences and can vary greatly in destinations, sizes, and themes, from luxurious world cruises to river cruises, from family-friendly cruises to expedition cruises for adventure seekers. Cruises often offer comprehensive packages that include accommodation, food, entertainment, and excursions, providing an all-in-one travel solution for many tourists.

Ski tourism

Ski tourism targets winter sports enthusiasts. Travellers might head to mountainous regions for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities. Ski resorts often provide comprehensive services, including equipment rental, ski lessons, accommodation, and après-ski entertainment, making it a popular choice for winter holidaymakers.

Scuba diving holidays

Scuba diving breaks cater to those who are interested in underwater exploration. Travellers often visit exotic locations known for their coral reefs, marine wildlife, and clear waters. This niche market includes the diving experience itself and often offers diving instruction, equipment rental, and other related services.

Sustainable, environmental and eco-tourism

Sustainable and eco-tourism is a rapidly growing niche in the travel industry, focusing on responsible travel practices. This niche promotes travelling in a way that respects local culture and environment, minimises impact on nature, and contributes to conserving natural and cultural heritage. Eco-tourism often involves visiting pristine, fragile, and relatively undisturbed natural areas, contributing to their preservation. Sometimes it also incorporates volunteer holidays where people spend their time helping conserve the environment.

Sports and sporting events tourism

Sports and sporting events tourism is a niche market that attracts sports enthusiasts and fans. This can involve travelling to participate in sporting activities like golf, cycling, or swimming or attending major sporting events such as the Olympics, the World Cup, or the Super Bowl. This niche often provides related services such as ticket booking, transportation, and accommodation.

Medical and wellness tourism

Medical and wellness tourism combines medical treatments with leisure travel. This niche caters to individuals who travel to receive medical treatments such as surgeries, dental procedures, or wellness therapies that may not be easily accessible or affordable in their home country. After receiving medical treatment, these travellers often take the opportunity to recuperate and relax at their destination.

Factors to consider when choosing a travel niche

When deciding which travel niche to specialise in, there are several considerations. 

Personal interests, passions, and expertise

When choosing a travel niche, it’s essential to consider one’s interests, passions, and areas of expertise. If you deeply understand and love a particular area, this can enhance your services, make your work more enjoyable, and resonate strongly with your target audience.

Market research and demand analysis

Conducting thorough market research and demand analysis is essential. Travel agents must understand the trends in the travel industry, identify which niches are growing, and assess the demand for different travel experiences. It’s also essential to consider your potential customers’ demographics, preferences, and behaviours.

Competition analysis and identifying gaps in the market

It’s important to research what other providers in your potential niche offer and identify market gaps. If there is an underserved area that aligns with your interests and expertise, this could present a unique business opportunity.

Accessibility and feasibility of the niche

Accessibility and feasibility are other crucial factors to consider. Some niches may require more resources or specific expertise to execute successfully. For instance, arranging adventure travel experiences might require extensive knowledge of safety protocols and outdoor survival skills. Assessing the feasibility of your potential niche ensures you can provide high-quality, reliable services.

Potential profitability and sustainability

While a niche might be personally fulfilling and have a good demand, it must also be financially viable for it to be a good business choice. It’s also important to consider the sustainability of the niche. Some niches may be trendy but have little long-term potential, while others, such as eco-tourism, align with long-term trends towards more sustainable and responsible travel.

Steps to choosing your travel niche

So, how do you choose your particular travel niche? 

1. Research and explore different niche markets

Your journey to choose a travel niche should start with broad research to explore different niche markets in the travel industry. This step involves learning about various travel niches, understanding what they entail, and identifying the ones that resonate with you.

2. Evaluate your personal interests, skills, and experiences

Next, evaluate your interests, skills, and experiences. Reflect on the types of travel that excite you, and consider your strengths and experiences that might contribute to success in a particular niche. This step is about identifying where your interests align with potential niche markets.

3. Analyse market trends and demand for specific niches

After identifying potential niches, you’ll want to analyse market trends and demand. Examine current trends in the travel industry, understand consumer behaviours and preferences, and determine which specialisations have strong growth potential. Market research can provide valuable insights into the demand for specific travel experiences.

4. Consider the potential challenges and opportunities within each niche

Assess the competition within the niche, identify potential entry barriers, and explore possible partnerships or collaborations. Considering challenges and opportunities can help you gauge your chosen niche’s feasibility and potential profitability.

5. Seek advice from industry experts 

Contact people already operating within your potential niche, attend industry events, or join relevant online communities. Experienced industry professionals can provide valuable insights and practical advice, helping you to avoid potential pitfalls and make informed decisions.

6. Make an informed decision based on your information

Review your research, reflect on your interests and skills, and consider the advice you’ve received. Choose the travel niche that best aligns with your passion, skills, and market demand. Remember, your chosen niche should be a viable business opportunity and something you’re excited about pursuing.

Embrace the power of niche tourism

Choosing a travel niche holds immense potential for success in the ever-evolving tourism industry. Embracing a niche that aligns with your interests and passions, and has a robust market demand, can lead to gratifying experiences and a thriving business.

The power of niche tourism lies in its ability to provide personalised, in-depth, and unique experiences beyond conventional tourism. As a franchisee with The Travel Franchise , you have the opportunity to harness this potential and can offer travel options that cater to specific interests, from adventure and outdoor activities, culinary explorations, and wellness retreats, to eco-tourism and more.

As you embark on this exciting journey in niche tourism, remember to continually monitor market trends, adapt to your customers’ evolving needs, and stay true to your passion. In doing so, you’re ready to create meaningful travel experiences that resonate with your audience and stand the test of time in this dynamic industry.

You might also like...

14 years in the business and now with a team by her side. Agata shares her tips and experience and explains why she still loves being a personal travel consultant

20 franchisees to join our charity ’Breast Trek Ever’ to Machu Picchu walking at altitude and up to nine hours in one day!

Start part time then go full time – just like Sarah who had never worked in travel before she joined us

Useful links

• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions

Get in touch

Our friendly team are on live chat if you have any questions..

• [email protected]
• 0800 084 8128

© The Travel Franchise. We reserve right to change our packages at any time.

Learn how it works instantly!

Your instant access to all our presentations is one e-mail away!

• Privacy Overview
• 3rd Party Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

You can read our Privacy Policy here .

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!

Top 40 Travel and Tourism Niches: Which One Are You?

Not too long ago, travel and adventure meant going out of your small town (be it even to the nearby woods ). You left the comfort and safety behind and took significant risks, especially if you traveled solo.

Today, numerous travel niches have become popular, each with its own tourism appeal and unique perspective that it offers.

In this post, I will list the major types of travels that I consider to be broad enough to deserve a mention as a travel niche. These tourism niches have big enough market demand to sustain as an independent category on their own.

Travel Niches & Trends

• Adventure Travel – Adventure tourism is the fastest growing and biggest travel niche today
• Nature and Wildlife Tourism (aka Ecotourism) – another trend which will continue to grow
• Cultural Tourism – traveling for the purpose of exploring various culture, and cultural & world heritage sites  
• Medical, Dental, & Fertility Tourism – traveling for medical purposes
• Wellness Tourism – traveling to seek tranquility, healing, meditation, and nature retreats
• Music (and Music Festivals) Tourism – popular with young adults
• Culinary Tourism – traveling for food, to eat well is to live well
• Wine, Cheese, & Beer Tourism – traveling to taste different wines from different regions
• Nightlife and Party Tourism – traveling to various party destinations 
• Roadtripping – traveling by car with a group of friends 
• Extreme Sports Tourism – traveling to mountains
• Highpointing – Hiking, climbing, or driving to the highest elevation point of a state, country or continent
• Sports Tourism (Golf, etc.) – either to play or watch
• Shopping Tourism – traveling exclusively for shopping purposes
• Religious Pilgrimages – walking, biking, or traveling to religious & spiritual sites

• Off-the-Grid Travel – traveling to and living off the grid in a minimalistic way
• Scenic Train Travel – touristy scenic train rides with focus on dining & wining
• Space Tourism – exploring the outer atmosphere, earth from above, and outer space
• Bookstores & Literary Tourism – visiting cool bookstores and fictional or real sites related to books and authors
• Tolkien Tourism – exploration of Tolkien’s middle earth and LOTR related sites
• Volunteer Travel – traveling & volunteering to work on non-profit charity projects
• Film & TV Tourism – traveling to various film and TV series filming sites (eg. Game of Thrones )
• Archaeology & History Tourism – traveling to ancient ruins, archeological sites, and historical places
• Ghost, UFO, & Haunted Tourism – traveling to haunted places and UFO siting sites
• Genealogy Tourism – tracing or returning to your roots
• Jungle Tourism – traveling and camping in the deep and remote jungles 
• Underwater Tourism – exploring the marine life and ocean through Scuba, Snuba, Snorkeling
• Shark Tourism – seeking underwater thrills & shark encounters across the globe
• Rural and Village Tourism – countryside relaxation 
• Astronomy Tourism – visiting sites that provides excellent views of the stars and night sky
• Inner city Tourism – exploring your own town or city in great details 
• Weekend Tourism – traveling every weekend (mostly nearby attractions)
• Ghetto Tourism – traveling & exploring the living conditions in slums and ghetto

Deviant & Sad Trends

A beautiful ruin 

I was debating at first whether to lost the following sad trends or not? Listing them will give them more exposure, so at first, I thought I will leave them out. But then I thought, these trends are actually growing (financially speaking) so closing my eyes to these problems will not help solve these issues.

The best thing I can do is to use this platform and bring public awareness about these. Some of these may sound harmless or even exciting (drugs and sex for example), but please understand that both drugs and sex causes overall more damage, deaths, and harm to innocent lives (including children).

The best way you can help is first by not participating in them and therefore cutting off the financial incentive. Second, you can be aware that these problems exist and thus help to spread the word. (Fact:  Even in Prague or Amsterdam , most of the girls working in the red light district are there against their will via deception, bribery, and manipulation.)

• Drug Tourism – mostly illegal and unsafe, please use common sense
• Sex Tourism (Male, Female, Trans) – again, please use common sense. Do not do anything that hurts other humans
• Dark Voyegeristic Tourism (Underground shady fights, deaths, & stuff) – please do not support or fund this industry by partaking in it. Anyone can be the next innocent victim of it
• War & Disaster Tourism – visiting sites with tragic past for pleasure (War, disaster, & genocidal sites, Nazi camps, etc.)
• Suicide Tourism (Important: if you are feeling suicidal, know that you’re not alone and confidential help is available for free. Please seek help. US Helpline | HelpGuide  | Resource Center )
• Hunting Tourism ( The Big 5 Games ) – traveling to mainly Africa ( South Africa , Tanzania , Kenya , Zimbabwe , Botswana , etc.) to hunt rare and endangered species such as Elephants, Lions, Rhinos among others. *Hunting* is very common in North America and Europe .

*Hunting is a personal choice. It’s a complex issue and would need an entire blog to discuss the various impacts and issues surrounding it. If you are not a hunter, please do not partake and support this industry.

As a starting point, please follow the first rule of life, do not kill life unless it is for your own or your family’s survival and safety . Also, the above category is about hunting the big animals (man of them endangered and at the point of extinction).

March 2, 2018 12:09 pm Published by Art Of Travel 3 Comments

Join the Travel Club

Categorized in: Trip Ideas , Travel Inspiration , Travel FAQ , Did You Know

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Resources and Links

• Write for Us
• Advertising
• Apply Tourist Visa
• Global Travel Alerts
• World Climate Guide
• Adventure Travel
• Press Bio/Media Kit
• Useful Travel Resources
• Common Travel Questions
• List of All Blogs
• Travel Bucket List
• Couple Goals

Niche Tourism: Exploring Unique and Specialized Travel Experiences

Niche tourism is a growing trend in the travel industry, catering to specialized segments of the market. It is the antithesis of mass tourism, focusing on the needs and interests of a smaller group of travellers rather than targeting mainstream attractions and amenities. As the global middle class expands and becomes better educated, especially in developing and densely populated regions, the demand for niche tourism experiences has increased.

This type of tourism can be characterized more by the activities and experiences sought by the tourists than by their numbers in a particular destination. Examples of niche tourism include eco-tourism, culinary tourism, adventure travel, and wellness retreats. These specialized experiences allow travellers to delve deeper into a region’s culture, natural environment, or unique attractions while benefiting local communities and economies more sustainably.

The rise of niche tourism has also spurred innovation and adaptations within the industry. As a result, destinations, tour operators , and travel service providers need to rethink their approach to cater to these discerning travellers’ specific needs and interests, ensuring that their offerings resonate with the niche market and enhance their customers’ overall travel experiences.

Table of Contents

What is niche tourism.

Niche tourism refers to specialized travel experiences catering to specific interests, activities, or demographic groups . Unlike mass tourism, which targets a broad audience with generalized interests such as sightseeing, beach vacations, or cultural exploration, niche tourism focuses on delivering highly personalized experiences that meet the particular needs or desires of a smaller segment of travellers.

Whether it’s adventure tourism for thrill-seekers, ecotourism for environmentally conscious individuals, or medical tourism for those seeking affordable healthcare options abroad, niche tourism aims to offer something unique that appeals to a specific type of traveller. It often provides more in-depth, specialized, and meaningful experiences, as it takes into account the specific preferences and expectations of its target audience.

Types of Niche Tourism

Indeed, niche tourism focuses on specialized and personalized travel experiences that cater to specific interests, hobbies, or needs. The following are the various types of niche tourism:

Adventure Tourism

Adventure tourism is focused on travellers seeking an adrenaline rush. This can include activities like skydiving, paragliding, scuba diving, or mountaineering. The key here is the thrill and the experience of something challenging. The destinations are often exotic or difficult to get to, and there might be a focus on natural landscapes.

Ecotourism aims to be as non-intrusive and beneficial as possible for the environment and local communities. This type of tourism might involve trips to natural reserves, rainforests, or other important ecological sites. It often includes educational components to inform travellers about the environment, local communities, and ways to protect natural resources.

Culinary Tourism

Culinary tourism revolves around food and drink experiences. This could range from high-end dining in major cities to foraging expeditions in the countryside. Food festivals, cooking classes, visits to farms, or exploring local markets could also be part of the package. Wine, beer, and spirits tasting tours are also popular.

Wellness Tourism

Wellness tourism focuses on mental and physical well-being. This could involve travel to spas, holistic health centres, or places known for natural beauty and tranquillity. Activities may include yoga retreats, detox programs, or spiritual teachings.

Dark Tourism

Dark tourism involves travel to places historically associated with tragedy, death, or disaster. Examples include concentration camps, battlefields, memorials, and sites of natural or industrial disasters. The aim is often educational and memorial rather than voyeuristic, although this can be a matter of debate and ethical consideration.

Medical Tourism

Medical tourism travels abroad to receive medical, dental, or surgical care. The reasons can vary but generally involve cost efficiency, quality of care, or availability of specialized treatments. Countries like Thailand, India, and Mexico often attract medical tourists due to the cost-effectiveness and quality of medical services.

Cultural or Heritage Tourism

This type of tourism is aimed at experiencing the culture and history of a destination. This can involve anything from visiting museums and historical sites to attending local festivals and ceremonies. Some tourists may even seek out locations that explore their ancestry.

Wildlife Tourism

Focused on wildlife and its natural habitats, this can range from safaris in Africa to bird-watching in South America. Ethical considerations are essential to ensure that wildlife and their habitats are respected and preserved.

Sport Tourism

Sports tourism encompasses a variety of activities, including participating in a sports camp, attending a major sporting event like the Olympics or World Cup, or simply touring a famous stadium. Golf tourism is a subset that deserves mention, as many travellers organize trips centred around playing at renowned golf courses.

Religious Tourism

Religious tourism involves visits to sacred sites for pilgrimage, missionary, or leisure purposes. Mecca, Vatican City, and the Ganges River are destinations that draw massive numbers of religious tourists each year.

LGBTQ Tourism

LGBTQ tourism caters to the needs and interests of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning community. This can range from gay-friendly hotels and beaches to events like Pride parades and LGBTQ film festivals.

Educational Tourism

Educational tourism focuses on learning experiences. This could involve studying a language abroad, participating in an archaeological dig, or taking a master’s class in photography while visiting iconic sites.

Film or TV Tourism

Some destinations attract visitors solely based on their appearance in movies or TV shows. For example, New Zealand has seen a tourism boom due to its portrayal as Middle-earth in the “Lord of the Rings” series, and fans of Korean dramas often visit filming locations in South Korea.

Wine Tourism

Wine tourism involves visiting vineyards and wineries to taste and purchase products directly from the source. It often includes guided tours explaining the wine-making process.

Activity-Based Tourism

Activity-based tourism is tailored around specific activities the tourist is interested in, such as scuba diving, fishing, or skiing.

Space Tourism

A very new and emerging type, space tourism aims to offer commercial trips outside of Earth. This is still mainly in the experimental stage but is becoming increasingly feasible.

Agri-Tourism

Agri-tourism involves participating in farm-based activities and gaining a closer look at the rural lifestyle. This can include activities like milking cows, picking fruits, and tractor rides.

Each niche tourism type has unique appeal, challenges, and ethical considerations. Understanding these can help travellers and providers create a more enriching and responsible experience.

Advantages of Niche Tourism

Niche tourism serves specialized segments within the tourism industry, catering to specific interests, demographics, or travel styles. There are several advantages that make niche tourism increasingly popular among travellers.

Firstly, niche tourism allows for a deeper, more authentic experience for travellers . Visitors can engage in activities and explore destinations that align with their passions or hobbies, such as culinary experiences, eco-tourism, or adventure sports. This personal connection can lead to a more satisfying and memorable travel experience.

Secondly, niche tourism benefits local communities by providing sustainable economic opportunities. Specialized markets often rely on small businesses and skilled artisans, which can spur job creation and economic growth.

Additionally, niche tourism helps to preserve local cultures and traditions as visitors seek to experience the authentic life and customs of the places they visit. This, in turn, encourages communities to maintain and promote their unique offerings.

Moreover, niche tourism can contribute to developing and promoting less explored destinations. By focusing on specific experiences and attractions, these destinations can differentiate their offerings from more mainstream tourist hotspots. This can lead to increased tourism revenue and economic development for lesser-known regions.

Niche tourism can also demonstrate a commitment to environmental and social responsibility. For example, eco-tourism and volunteer travel promote sustainable practices, such as resource conservation, wildlife protection, and community development initiatives. These tourism segments attract responsible, conscious travellers, reflect positively on the destinations they visit.

In summary, niche tourism offers significant advantages for travellers, local communities, and destinations. By catering to specialized markets, niche tourism enhances the overall travel experience, bolsters economies, encourages cultural preservation, fosters sustainable practices, and helps to promote lesser-known regions.

Disadvantages of Niche Tourism

Niche tourism, despite its advantages, does have certain drawbacks as well. One of the primary disadvantages of niche tourism is the  lack of economies of scale . This means that an operation with a lower production volume may face higher unit costs. Niche tourism activities tend to cater to smaller groups of tourists, leading to limited capacity for revenue generation.

Another challenge faced in niche tourism is the  lack of alternative revenue streams . Since these specialized tourism services cater to specific needs and interests, they may not easily adapt to market changes or diversify their offerings. This inflexibility can make niche tourism operations more vulnerable to economic fluctuations and industry trends.

Niche tourism can also lead to  over-reliance on a specific target market . Businesses focusing solely on niche markets may struggle to attract other types of tourists outside their specialization. This dependence on a limited market segment increases the risk of reduced revenues if the niche market experiences a downturn.

Additionally, because niche tourism focuses on specialized activities and experiences, there may be  limited access to resources, infrastructure, and expertise . This can make it challenging for niche tourism operators to maintain high levels of quality and safety, fulfil regulatory requirements, or stay up-to-date with advancements in technology and industry best practices.

Lastly, niche tourism can sometimes be at odds with  environmental sustainability . While many niche tourism products promote sustainable practices and experiences, some can have negative impacts on fragile ecosystems and local communities. For instance, certain adventure tourism activities may contribute to the degradation of natural environments by encouraging tourists to visit remote and pristine locations that may not be equipped to handle an influx of visitors.

In summary, disadvantages of niche tourism may include higher unit costs, lack of alternative revenue streams, over-reliance on a specific market, limited resources and expertise, and potential environmental impacts. While these challenges can make niche tourism less attractive for some businesses, it is essential to acknowledge these potential issues when pursuing specialized tourism operations.

Characteristics of Niche Tourism

Niche tourism is a fascinating facet of the travel industry, addressing individual tourists’ specific interests and needs rather than a generalized mass market. The defining characteristics of niche tourism include:

• Specialized Focus : Niche tourism concentrates on specific areas of interest or activities, whether wine tasting, bird watching, yoga retreats, or historical battlefield tours.
• Tailored Experiences : Unlike the one-size-fits-all approach of mass tourism, niche tourism is about providing tailored experiences that cater to its target audience’s specific desires and needs.
• Smaller Scale : Generally, niche tourism attracts fewer numbers compared to mass tourism. However, the emphasis is on depth and quality of experience rather than volume.
• Engaged Audience : Tourists drawn to niche activities are usually highly engaged and passionate about their chosen area of interest. They are often willing to invest time, effort, and money into gaining a deeper understanding or more enriching experience.
• Sustainable and Responsible Practices : Many niche tourism sectors prioritize sustainability and responsibility, particularly eco-tourism, agri-tourism, or community-based tourism. They often strive for a balance that benefits the local environment, economy, and society.
• Higher Per-capita Spending : Since niche tourism offers specialized experiences, travellers are often willing to pay a premium. This can lead to higher per-capita spending compared to traditional mass tourism.
• Deep Interaction : Niche tourism often promotes a deeper interaction between the traveller and the destination. For instance, cultural tourism might involve staying with local families, attending traditional ceremonies, or learning a local craft.
• Authenticity : One of the draws of niche tourism is the pursuit of authentic experiences. Travelers seek genuine interactions and experiences that are true to the locale, culture, or activity.
• Dynamic and Evolving : As societal interests change and evolve, so do the niches within tourism. For instance, wellness tourism has surged with the growing global focus on health and well-being.
• Less Seasonal Dependence : While mass tourism might concentrate on peak seasons (like summer vacations or winter holidays), niche tourism can often transcend seasonality. For example, bird-watching might attract tourists during migration seasons, while wellness retreats can be year-round attractions.

Niche tourism is characterized by its focus on specialization, depth of experience, and often a commitment to sustainability and authenticity. It offers unique opportunities for destinations to diversify their tourist offerings and for travellers to pursue their passions in depth.

Why is Niche Tourism Growing?

Niche tourism is experiencing significant growth due to a variety of interconnected factors. One key driver is the modern traveller’s increasing desire for personalized, tailored experiences that align with specific interests- adventure, culture, or wellness. Gone are the days when one-size-fits-all vacation packages appealed to the masses. Today, travellers seek unique, specialized experiences that cater to their tastes and preferences.

The rise of the internet and social media platforms has also played a crucial role in niche tourism’s growth. These platforms have democratized information, making it easier for travellers to discover and access specialized experiences. For niche tourism operators, digital platforms offer a cost-effective way to market unique offerings to a global audience, enlarging their customer base.

The quest for authenticity is another contributing factor. Today’s travellers are increasingly seeking “real,” meaningful experiences that allow for a deeper engagement with a destination’s culture, history, or natural environment. Niche tourism typically offers these kinds of in-depth, authentic experiences, whether participating in a traditional tea ceremony in Japan or trekking through a rainforest in Costa Rica.

Sustainability concerns have also given niche tourism a significant boost. With a growing global awareness of environmental issues, many travellers are seeking sustainable forms of tourism . Types of niche tourism like ecotourism, which focuses on environmental conservation and responsible travel, have seen a surge in popularity as a result.

Changes in demographics and lifestyle are also playing a role. As populations in many parts of the world age, and as people become more health-conscious, sectors like wellness and medical tourism are booming. Moreover, the economic benefits of niche tourism make it attractive for destinations. Specialized tourism often attracts a type of traveller willing to spend more on specialized experiences, helping to diversify a destination’s tourist income and making it less dependent on mass tourism.

Word-of-mouth recommendations and social media sharing of unique and specialized experiences effectively serve as free marketing for niche tourism. These shared experiences inspire and encourage more people to opt for specialized, off-the-beaten-path experiences.

The growth in niche tourism can be attributed to a combination of technological, social, and economic factors that have converged to make specialized travel more desirable and accessible.

The Impacts of Niche Tourism

Niche tourism can positively and negatively impact local communities, economies, and environments. Understanding these effects is crucial for sustainable development and responsible travel. Here’s a look at both sides of the coin:

Positive Impacts

• Economic Diversification : Unlike mass tourism, niche tourism allows destinations to diversify their sources of income. Tourists with specialized interests are often willing to spend more for specific experiences.
• Community Engagement : Like cultural and rural tourism , Niche tourism often involves deeper interaction with local communities, fostering mutual respect and cultural exchange.
• Conservation and Awareness : Ecotourism and wildlife tourism often funnel funds directly into conservation efforts, and they can also heighten awareness of environmental issues among travellers.
• Educational Value : Many niche tourism sectors have a strong educational component. Whether learning about a unique culture, ecosystem, or historical period, the educational aspect can enrich the traveller’s experience and broaden their horizons.
• Job Creation : Specialized types of tourism can lead to the creation of specialized jobs, potentially offering higher wages and skill development for local communities.
• Psychological Benefits : Wellness and medical tourism can provide direct psychological and health benefits to participants, offering therapies, treatments, or experiences that may not be available in their home country.

Negative Impacts

• Environmental Stress : Even ecotourism, if not managed properly, can put undue stress on local ecosystems. The influx of tourists can disturb wildlife, lead to pollution, and degrade natural habitats.
• Cultural Commodification : Specialized interest in local cultures can sometimes lead to the commodification of traditions and practices, where elements of culture are altered or staged for tourist consumption.
• Economic Dependence : Over-reliance on a particular form of niche tourism can make a destination vulnerable to economic fluctuations in that market.
• Accessibility Issues : Because niche tourism often caters to more affluent travellers willing to pay for specialized experiences, it could exclude less affluent local people from certain activities or areas.
• Resource Strain : Niche tourists often seek untouched or less-explored destinations, which might not have the infrastructure to support increased tourist activity. This can lead to resource strains on small communities.
• Exclusivity : Some types of niche tourism can inadvertently create an atmosphere of exclusivity, alienating local populations who may not be part of the target demographic (e.g., LGBTQ tourism, luxury tourism).

Understanding these impacts can help in the development of policies and strategies to maximize the benefits and minimize the downsides of niche tourism. This makes it crucial for stakeholders, from government bodies to tour operators , to engage in responsible planning and management.

Niche Tourism vs. Mass Tourism

Niche and mass tourism are two distinct approaches to travel and tourism, each with unique characteristics, benefits, and challenges. Here’s a breakdown comparing the two:

Niche Tourism:

Definition : Niche tourism focuses on specialized and targeted travel experiences that cater to specific interests, activities, or demographic groups.

Characteristics :

• Tailored Experiences : Offers specialized experiences for a select group of travellers with particular interests, such as ecotourism, medical tourism , or culinary tourism.
• Smaller Scale : Typically attracts fewer numbers than mass tourism, aiming for depth of experience over volume.
• Higher Per-capita Spending : Travelers are often willing to spend more for personalized experiences.
• Sustainable Practices : Many niche tourism sectors emphasize sustainable and responsible practices, especially ecotourism or community-based tourism.
• Economic Diversification : Allows regions to diversify their tourism revenue sources.
• Less Environmental Impact : With fewer visitors, there’s generally less strain on resources and infrastructure.
• Cultural Exchange : Promotes deeper interaction and understanding between tourists and local communities.

Challenges :

• Dependence : Over-reliance on a single niche market can be risky.
• Management : Requires specific strategies and policies to ensure authentic and sustainable experiences.

Mass Tourism:

Definition : Mass tourism caters to large numbers of tourists who typically visit popular destinations and attractions.

• Broad Appeal : Focuses on universally appealing destinations or attractions, like famous landmarks, beach resorts, or popular cities.
• High Volume : Attracts a large number of visitors, especially during peak seasons.
• Standardized Offerings : Packages and experiences are often standardized to cater to the majority.
• Economic Boost : This can provide significant cash injection into a region due to the sheer number of visitors.
• Job Creation : Creates numerous jobs in the service, transportation, and hospitality sectors.
• Environmental Strain : The large influx can strain local resources, lead to pollution, and degrade natural and cultural sites.
• Overcrowding : Popular destinations can become over-touristed, diminishing the experience for visitors and locals.
• Economic Dependence : If a destination relies too heavily on mass tourism , it can become vulnerable to economic fluctuations.

Key Differences:

• Scale and Focus : Niche tourism is about depth and specificity, while mass tourism is about volume and breadth.
• Impact on Destination : Niche tourism often has a smaller footprint and may invest more in sustainable practices, while mass tourism can bring economic benefits but also significant strains on a destination.
• Target Audience : Niche tourism targets specific segments or interest groups, while mass tourism aims for the broadest appeal.
• Economic Model : Niche tourism often results in higher per-capita spending but on a smaller scale, while mass tourism focuses on high volumes, often with lower per-capita spending.

In conclusion, while both forms of tourism have their merits and challenges, the choice between them often hinges on travellers’ individual preferences, as well as the goals and resources of the destination.

Niche tourism offers more personalized, focused experiences at the cost of potential exclusivity and specialized demands, while mass tourism generates significant revenue and accessibility but may lead to cultural and environmental degradation. Both forms have their merits and drawbacks, and destinations often aim for a balanced portfolio that includes both types.

Popular Niche Tourism Destinations

Niche tourism destinations are tailored to specific interests, from the serenity of wellness retreats to the thrill of adventure sports. Here are some popular niche tourism destinations that cater to various specialized interests:

• Costa Rica : Known for its rich biodiversity, Costa Rica is a hotspot for ecotourism, offering a variety of activities such as bird-watching, jungle treks, and conservation programs.
• Galápagos Islands, Ecuador : Famous for its unique wildlife and natural beauty, the Galápagos offer a quintessential ecotourism experience.
• Queenstown, New Zealand : Often dubbed the “Adventure Capital of the World,” it offers bungee jumping, skydiving, and whitewater rafting.
• Swiss Alps : Popular for skiing, snowboarding, and mountaineering.

Cultural Tourism

• Kyoto, Japan : With its ancient temples, traditional tea ceremonies, and geisha culture, Kyoto is a haven for cultural tourism .
• Rome, Italy : A paradise for lovers of history and architecture, offering ancient ruins like the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
• Bali, Indonesia : Known for its wellness retreats that offer yoga, meditation, and natural health remedies.
• Switzerland : Home to some of the world’s most luxurious wellness retreats, often set in stunning alpine locations.
• Bangkok, Thailand : Known for high-quality healthcare at affordable prices.
• India : Particularly popular for specialized surgeries and alternative treatments like Ayurveda.
• San Francisco, USA : Known for its vibrant LGBTQ community and events like the Pride Parade.
• Amsterdam, Netherlands : One of the most LGBTQ-friendly cities in the world, home to the first-ever gay marriage.

Rural Tourism

• Tuscany, Italy : Offers rustic experiences like vineyard tours and cooking classes.
• Himalayan Villages, India : Provides an escape from city life amidst snow-capped mountains and lush green valleys.

Activity-based Tourism

• Safari in Maasai Mara, Kenya : Offers wildlife spotting opportunities, including the Great Migration.
• Scuba Diving in the Maldives : Known for its stunning underwater life and coral reefs.
• Napa Valley, USA : Famous for its world-class wineries and vineyard tours.
• Bordeaux, France : Renowned globally for its wine culture.
• Spaceport America, New Mexico, USA : Virgin Galactic aims to offer sub-orbital trips to space tourists.
• Kazakhstan : The Baikonur Cosmodrome offers orbital space tourism, though at a very high price tag and less frequently.

Whether it’s the quest for adventure, relaxation, or deeper cultural experiences, these destinations offer something special for every niche traveller.

Search Travel Market Report

• Packaged Travel
• Hotels & Resorts
• Destinations
• Retail Strategies
• Niche & Luxury
• Training & Resources
• Brian Israel
• Briana Bonfiglio
• Dan McCarthy
• Dori Saltzman
• Jennifer Arango
• Kelly Fontenelle
• Keri-Anne Slevin
• Louis Intreglia
• Sarah Milner
• Tom McCarthy

What's Trending in Niche Travel Tours?

Puglia, Italy, one of the trending destinations for Explore Worldwide. Photo: Shutterstock.com

There’s a niche tour and itinerary for every traveler—birdwatching, hiking, heritage, culinary, wine, photography, solo, female, architecture, cheese, wellness, bucket list, polar bears—even sloths. Here is a sampling of some of the most popular tours trending.

Intrepid Travel Intrepid has always been somewhat niche–it’s known as the world’s largest small-group adventure travel company, and over 65 percent of its travelers are solo females.

“We are seeing a lot of niche travel around climate action and responsible travel with citizen scientist programs,” says Matt Berna, Intrepid Travel President, North America. Intrepid is the only global tour operator with verified science-based carbon reduction targets (a climate scientist is on staff), he says.

“The fragile environment that props up the global tourism industry is facing an existential crisis and travel itself is perpetuating the problem,” says Berna. “To help address this, we have launched our first-ever Citizen Science program in Antarctica.”

Citizen Science is voluntary research collected through public participation—travelers share and contribute data they observe to a variety of projects. There are five programs ranging from the NASA Globe Observer, which observes cloud movements in concert with NASA satellite flyovers to Seabird Survey where travelers record wildlife viewings to help scientists better understand seabird migrations in the Southern Ocean.

“One of our most exciting onboard Citizen Science projects is the Happywhale project,” says Berna. Guests are encouraged to take photos of whale sightings and upload them online, after which scientists can identify them by their unique markings and track them around the globe.

While the five programs will be available on all Intrepid Antarctic sailings, Intrepid will also be running two exclusive departures next year in partnership with WWF Australia, in which travelers will be joined onboard by scientists from WWF and the University of California Santa Cruz. The 14-day WWF Journey to the Circle and the 11-day WWF Giants of Antarctica will host a team of marine biologists conducting scientific research on Antarctica's great whales to better understand their ecology and migration corridors under changing climates. Chris Johnson, Global Lead of WWF’s Protecting Whales & Dolphins Initiative will travel on both of these  Intrepid sailings with guest researchers from UCSC, including renowned whale ecologist Dr. Ari Friedlander.

Intrepid also recently relaunched its Real Food Adventures tours. Following a pandemic-induced hiatus, the reimagined tours now include 21 plant-based experiences with favorites like Mexico, India, and Vietnam, as well as newer itineraries in South Korea, The Balkans, Israel, and Palestine.

While the new journeys still feature signature meals with traditional meat and fish dishes, the trips have been redesigned to show the importance of balance and moderation when it comes to making small but significant changes toward a more climate-friendly lifestyle, says Etti.

One example: the South Korea Real Food Adventure, where travelers visit South Korea’s slow food capital in Jeonju, dive deep into seafood in Busan, and experience the labyrinthian Gwangjang Market in Seoul, famously featured in the Netflix series Street Food. On day four, travelers will immerse themselves in the plant-based experience during a temple stay in Gyeongju, which includes a plant-based dinner with chanting meditation and an optional martial arts class.

Oldways Heritage culinary travel is popular with travelers wanting to connect with traditional recipes that have been handed down for generations.

Boston-based Oldways is a nonprofit food and nutrition organization, hosts overseas and domestic culinary heritage trips—and there’s always at least one chef traveling along. Upcoming trips include a Naples and Amalfi trip in October, with Chef Michael Lombardi of Boston’s SRV Restaurant. Expect visits to producers of mozzarella, San Marzano tomatoes, pasta, and limoncello; pizza-making and other cooking demonstrations; winery visits, and town-by-town tours of the Amalfi Coast and Naples.

Trips to Turkey, Costa Rica, and Switzerland are scheduled for next year.

Oceania Cruises Sustainability, conservation, and rehabilitation are at the heart of Oceania ’s 150 Go Green tours worldwide—travelers engage with residents and businesses to learn about their initiatives to help conserve and sustain their environments.

Experiences include visiting a sustainable vineyard in Almeria, Spain; learning aspects of hydroponic farming in the rainforests of St. Kitts; discovering the world of eco-conscious art in Buenos Aires, Argentina; and imbibing zero-emission rum in the world’s only carbon-free distillery in Dartmouth, United Kingdom.

And, then, there’s the unique sloth sanctuary trip in Costa Rica—travelers visit the sanctuary that is a home for sloths, orphaned, injured or displaced because their habitat was lost due to deforestation. Guests have a close-up look at the animals as they are rehabilitated in hopes of returning them to the wild. Deforestation is one of the biggest threats to sloths, so to help their cause, travelers also have an opportunity to plant a tree in a nearby forest reserve.

Trafalgar “Offering niche itineraries that cater to a specific group of people or hobby helps to drive more interest and create an inclusive dynamic for any type of traveler that may want to take a guided vacation,” says Melissa DaSilva, President of Trafalgar, North America . “Beyond religious expeditions or family travel, niche travel experiences can be specific to a demographic or special interests.”

This year, Trafalgar launched 12 women-only trips. It was a decision driven by the rise in women’s travel as a way to empower and lift other women up, says DaSilva. “It was important to make sure we offered ways for women to feel truly comfortable in their travel experience and meet women trailblazers from all over the world that they can relate to and learn from. Our new, women’s only trips have proven to be a success with plans for more women's only departures in 2023."

History lovers immerse themselves in ancient and 20th-century warfare on itineraries in Turkey for insight into the feats of the Ottoman Empire and the ancient battles of the Trojans. Or, for recent historical perspectives, the WWI and WWII Battlefields itinerary brings guests to the frontlines of Europe with battlefield tours through the countryside of Britain, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

Trafalgar also satiates insatiable desires for travelers looking for multi-gen tours to the jungles of Costa Rica and foodie and sip indulgences to Cali wine country.

Cheese Journeys Say cheese! Cheese-centric tours are offered by Cheese Journeys , the brainchild of Anna Juhl—travelers are immersed in the world of artisan cheese, on farms and in creameries of world-renowned cheesemakers to gain insight into the cheese’s history, the importance of terroir and the process and the history of cheesemaking.

A popular experience takes travelers to Cheddar in Somerset, England (where  cheddar cheese originated in the 12th century.) They travel side-by-side with Jamie Montgomery, whose family’s namesake Montgomery Cheddar has been served by the British royal family for years; this trip is part of Cheese Journeys’ “British Cheese Odyssey.” Guests meet and learn from ten-plus British cheese, beer, and cider producers and also stay at North Cadbury Court, the Montgomery family’s restored estate—with games of snooker in the parlor and dancing in the manor’s private disco.

Next year, Cheese Journeys debuts its Château de Courances and Paris trip, visiting the French countryside and City of Lights—with celebrated Madame Fromage.

Gondwana Ecotours “The pandemic put the entire tour industry on hold and customer interest and behavior have all changed during what can only be described as a rebound,” says Eric Segalstad, Vice President of Gondwana Ecotours .

As such, new niches were created—last-minute touring and bucket list trips.

“Last summer guests were eagerly booking and traveling within the United States,” says Segalstad. “Where travelers in the past would often book our multi-day tours months in advance, many reached out asking to travel ‘next week.’”

Demand for domestic travel continues this year, says Segalstad. “We've seen a surging interest for bucket-list tours such as seeing the Northern Lights, safely experiencing grizzly bears up close, and being awed by Denali by train, foot, and on scenic flights.”

And, he says, international destinations are also on the radar. “We have sold-out safaris coming up this winter where our guests get to witness the Great Migration in Tanzania and increased demand from our travelers who wish to check off Argentina's Patagonia and Mendoza from their bucket lists as well.”

AmaWaterways Epicurean and heritage cruises are specialties of river cruise line AmaWaterways.

And, wine is a big hit. Shocker.

AmaWaterways offers 60-plus Celebration of Wine River Cruises each year; popular regions include Austria's Wachau Valley and France's Bordeaux region. Wine experts share their passion and knowledge for the local wines, rich traditions, and the history of European winemaking. There are also onshore tasting events, seasonal wine festival visits, celebratory meals, tastings, seminars, private cellar tours, and iconic vineyard visits. 

And, last year, AmaWaterways entered into a partnership with Ancestry®. The collaboration gives travelers an opportunity to discover details pertaining to their unique family histories while journeying on a river cruise experience. The first cruise in the series, Heritage on the River: Your Personalized Ancestry® Experience, departed this summer, onboard the 156-guest AmaStella . Two additional departures are already announced for 2023 . 

Explore Worldwide Solo travel and culinary escapes are on the radar of Explore Worldwide —the company offers popular tours to desirable destinations.

For example, the company’s A Taste of Italy—Walking in Puglia tour invites travelers to sample the region’s celebrated cuisine and learn about how local cheese, bread, olive oil, and wine is made, along with rambles in landscapes, and exploration of spots like the ancient Sassi quarter and gorge of Matera, the conical Trulli houses of the Itria Valley.

And, on many travelers' bucket lists, is a safari—The Botswana Wildlife Safari solo journeys track through Botswana's remote wilderness to witness Africa's wildlife and experience outdoor adventures.

Aurora Expeditions This popular Australian-owned polar expedition company hosts small group tours to regions in Antarctica.

Founded by Greg and Margaret Mortimer in 1991, travelers experience Antarctica’s unique activities like polar scuba diving and ski touring. Many of Aurora’s expedition team members are experts in various fields of science including glaciers, marine biology, and more, and have been visiting Antarctica for decades.

Aurora Expeditions design intimate 10-to-26-day expeditions; travelers choose the desired region, the amount of time they’ve got, and what activities that interest them. They can focus on one destination or combine back-to-back trips. They’re accompanied by seasoned expedition specialists.

MOST VIEWED

• Four Spots Onboard the All-New Sun Princess We’re Not in Love With
• Op-Ed: Why I Won’t Use Costco for Travel Again
• Delta Air Lines Is Changing the Way It Boards Flights
• Report: Delta Air Lines Plans to Drop Baggage Recheck on Arrival to U.S.
• Testing the Waters with Dori: The NCL Stranded Passenger "Fiasco"
• Margaritaville at Sea Offers Advisor-Only Pricing
• Catering Strike Causes Delays at Toronto Pearson Airport
• Taiwan Earthquake Update: Train Services Resume, Flights Operating Near Schedule
• Horseshoe’s Jubilee Tower Becomes the Versailles Tower at Paris Las Vegas
• Lufthansa Strike Update for Monday
• Major Cruise Changes Could Come After Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge Collapses
• Here's What Each River Cruise Line Includes

Subscribe today to receive daily in-depth coverage, analysis of industry news, trends and issues that affect how you do business. Subscribe now for free.

Subscribe to TMR

Suppliers from across the travel industry are expressing their gratitude to the trade. 

The Karisma execs tease a new advisor program for the Nickelodeon properties.

The wholesale tour operator will reward travel advisors for land bookings made in May.

Three Holland America Group brands -- and their cruise tours -- are affected. 

The new sales team has a combined 70-plus years of travel industry experience.

News and notes from A&K’s 100 Club Event, including what's coming from the brand. 

• History & Milestones

Connecting the seemingly unconnected

• India Portfolio
• International Portfolio
• Travel Commerce
• Airline Management
• Advanced Pilot Training
• Aircraft Maintenance Engineering

InterGlobe and Assago launch AIonOS - an AI business venture

• Culture & Heritage
• Environment
• Contribute & Support

InterGlobe Foundation

• Life at InterGlobe
• Opportunities

#MyConnectionWithInterGlobe: Employee Stories

• In the News
• Press Releases

• InterGlobe Foundation: Restoring heritage sites
• IndiGo awarded Asia’s Best Low-Cost airline by TripAdvisor’s 2019 Travellers' Choice Airline Awards

Niche Tourism: Unlocking New Travel Experiences

With the world moving forward, the landscape of the tourism industry has evolved only to make it more specialized and convenient for travellers.

Niche Tourism introduces how a specific tourism aspect can be tailored to meet the needs of a market segment, which is interested in something particular or distinct. The concept focuses on how experiences of tourists can be customized to meet the needs and be more personalized for the different types of audience in the market.

The idea can be perceived as a response to an increase in the number of more modern tourists demanding tailored tourism products. Under this setup, the destinations can direct their offerings to distinguish their tourism products and compete in an increasingly competitive and cluttered industry environment.

Different Segments of Niche Tourism:

Varying from Gastronomy to Leisure and Recreational, and Adventure to Heritage, it's nearly impossible for anyone to fit all the aspects of niche tourism in just one list.

The ever-evolving interest of the audience has resulted in a specialised corner of the tourism market, primarily developed around a tailor-made experience for the visitors.

Here are a few examples of some popular interests groups in Niche Tourism -

Heritage and Cultural Tourism: Essentially directed towards history and culture, this type of tourism is more traditional and occurs typically in urban areas with a distinct area of interest, such as museums and theatres. This aspect of tourism also brings in light the diverse traditions of native communities through witnessing their rituals, customs, and their values and way of living. Owing to its diversity, India is symbolized by the plurality of its heritage value. All the captivating monuments and heritage sites in the country depict their story while keeping the visitors fascinated.

Sustainable Tourism: Not similar to eco-tourism or green tourism, which focuses on protection and environmental implications, Sustainable tourism, on the other hand, is a way of doing things to protect and ensure the future of the local tourism industry. This niche of tourism is mainly directed towards striving to make as profound an influence as possible on the environment and local culture while helping to generate income and employment for the local market.

Adventure Tourism: Travelling that involves exploration, and some amount of risk potentially come under Adventure Tourism. Under this segment, the audience is expected to possess specialized skills and the willingness to be under physical duress while undergoing, if not rigorous, at least the minimum required training to experience this multifaceted dimension of tourism.

Art Tourism: This niche of tourism can be observed when people travel to a destination to engage in activities related to art such as museums, special events related to art, dance and book festivals, etc. For some, art tourism is a subdivision under Cultural Tourism, but because of its growing vastness, it has become a niche aspect of travelling.

Wellness and Spiritual Tourism: Some tourists tend to select their destination to relax and indulge in reflexology and special massages. People visit destinations like Hawaii or Costa Rica for various reasons, but these countries owing to their islands or unique retreat centres, are the most preferred one for an unwinding getaway. For Spiritual Tourism, the travellers are looking to explore temples, meditation and yoga at different destinations, or some for pilgrimage. India, owing to its rich legacy and being the birthplace of Hinduism and Buddhism and home to thousands of monasteries and ancient temples, tops the list of such destinations.

Film Tourism: As a recently emerged niche in the tourism industry, Film Tourism is a thriving marvel worldwide. People have indeed started showing their interest in destinations which became famous due to their appearance in cinemas and television series.

Culinary Tourism: One of the most interesting and latest niches emerging in the tourism industry is around the gastronomical delights that the travellers are looking for.

For a "Foodie" to plan its journey, the culinary offerings have a considerable influence on their itinerary.

Apart from all the popular segments of niche tourism, there are a host of other categories that visitors like to experience. The visitors are definitely not limited to just one of the different forms of tourism, and the most memorable itinerary likely includes a mixture of adventure, sightseeing, culture and more.

The Role of Niche Tourism in Destination Development

With the rise of Niche tourism in the market, the concept of positioning is not entirely limited to brands but destinations as well. The positioning of a destination therefore involves categorizing the place in essence to the kind of experience it offers to the visitors - it is all unique and distinct for all the destinations. The destination image contains components that are holistic and based on attributes that help tourists identify them under segregated niches to plan accordingly.

This not only makes it easier for the tourist to find the right kind of place for them but also the destination to create a unique image for itself that attracts all the relevant visitors.

What does Niche Tourism have in store for India?

Owing to the rich culture with diverse topography and geopolitical heritage, India attracts tourists from various niches. Without any doubt, one can also predict that these niches can soon become the businesses of tomorrow, and many of them will be crucial for the growth of India's tourism industry.

Travel & Tourism sector plays a crucial role in the Indian Economic Development, and it has already been discovered that niche is where the money is. Visitors do not limit themselves to just one of the different forms of tourism in India, clubbing them all together results in the most memorable itinerary that's likely to include everything ranging from adventure to sightseeing, and culture to wildlife.

Keeping in mind the prospect of becoming a tourist hub for various niches and driving higher returns, it is imperative that the tourism industry is able to continuously evolve. While the authorities are working towards not just identifying new segments but also creating a ground-level infrastructure, the industry should utilize the systems to attract the right audience and better manage the burgeoning tourism.

https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/niche-tourism-opportunities https://www.napier.ac.uk/~/media/worktribe/output-209366/fullthesispdf.pdf https://geographycasestudysite.wordpress.com/niche-tourism/ https://www.tourismtattler.com/articles/niche-tourism/30-niche-tourism-groups/12645 http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/Trend-Watch/niche-tourism--opportunities-for-india-14794

• Moscow concerts Moscow concerts Moscow concerts See all Moscow concerts ( Change location ) Today · Next 7 days · Next 30 days
• Most popular artists worldwide
• Trending artists worldwide

• Tourbox for artists

Search for events or artists

• Sign up Log in

• Get the app
• Moscow concerts
• Change location
• Popular Artists
• Live streams
• Deutsch Português
• Popular artists

Grupo Niche  

• On tour: yes
• Grupo Niche is not playing near you. View all concerts
• Moscow, Russian Federation Change location

110,782 fans get concert alerts for this artist.

Join Songkick to track Grupo Niche and get concert alerts when they play near you.

Nearest concert to you

Touring outside your city

Be the first to know when they tour near Moscow, Russian Federation

Join 110,782 fans getting concert alerts for this artist

Upcoming concerts (29) See all

Parque de la Leyenda Vallenata

Fair Grounds Race Course, Gentilly Stage

801 Convention Center

MacEwan Cultural Centre

Gran Teatro Nacional

Auditorio Nacional

Gran Arena Monticello

Barclays Center

Plaza Cultural del Sinú

Eagle Bank Arena

View all upcoming concerts 29

Similar artists with upcoming concerts

Tours most with.

Grupo Niche is a salsa group from Cali, Colombia consisting of Tito Gomez, Alvaro del Castillo, Moncho Santana, Jairo Varela and Charlie Zaa.

The group was first formed by producer, director, songwriter, vocalist and guiro player

Jairo Varela and trombone player and arranger Alexis Lozano in 1978; they were then joined by pianist Nicholas Cristancho, bassist Francisco Garcia, conga player Luis Pacheco, and vocalists Jorge Bazán and Hector Viveros. Together they released their first album in 1980 entitled “Al Pasto,” but unfortunately, it did little to challenge the dominating salsa band of Colombia at the time. Things did turn around though with the release of their second album, “Querer es Poder,” which was released in 1981.

Following “Querer Es Poder,” the group released two more albums: “Preparate” (released in 1982) and “Directo Desde New York!” (released in 1983). Grupo Niche then released "No Hay Quinto Malo" in 1984, which featured their signature song, "Cali Pachanguero;” the tribute single to the "world salsa capital" catapulted Niche as one of the top salsa bands of Colombia. In 1986, the band incorporated Puerto Rican vocalist Tito Gomez, who had previously worked with the famous Puerto Rican salsa group, la Sonora Ponceña, and Ray Barretto, the Godfather of Latin Jazz; additionally that year, they released "Me Huele a Matrimonio". Afterward, yet another Puerto Rican joined, the pianist Israel Tanenbaum.

Having released sixteen more albums since “No Hay Quinto Malo,” the band played a show in Montreal, Canada to celebrate the independence of Columbia in 2013. That same year saw the release of “La Danza de la Chanaca,” followed a year later by “Control Absoluto.” After two more albums, the band took a recording break for at least seven years, returning in 2013 with the release of “Tocando El Cielo con Las Manos.”

Live reviews

This Colombian salsa group knows how to have a good time. Their concerts are all-singing, all-dancing, cheeky affairs with the group always excited to banter with the masses of fans they’ve picked up over the years. I’ve even seen the guys crouch down to take a selfie with a member of the audience while mid-song. Grupo Niche really does love their fans as much as their fans love them.

The synergy between Grupo Niche and their fun-loving fan group means that the guys have an extra reason to make classic hits such as "Cali Pachanguero" (which is played at every concert without fail), "Gotas de Lluvia" and "Han Cogido la Cosa" sound fresh. And boy, do they achieve it. The group plays their songs with so much verve that whether you’ve heard them played on the radio one hundred times or a thousand, it’s like a brand new experience. When I saw them perform earlier this year, Grupo Niche ended their set with "Sin Sentimientos." It’s a classic I know well, but I found myself dancing to it like it was the first time I’d heard it. This group is a lot of fun. Go dance to their live music while you have the chance!

Report as inappropriate

Colombian salsa band Grupo Niche were something of an institution in Latino music through the 80s and 90s and impressively with a career that spans over three decades, they have not lost a single member. It is clear that these guys absolutely love performing together and have a fantastic relationship as they have been lucky enough to experience the shows and the travel together.

They also have a great bond with the fans as they know lots of them are regulars at the concerts and they attend over and over again because they are always guaranteed one hell of a party. They jump, dance and sing beneath the great up tempo tropical rhythms as each band member takes time to interact with them on a personal level and this receives huge screams from the audience. They leave on a particularly danceable number and are safe in the knowledge that the whole venue has had a really fun evening.

Grupo Niche was in Curacao on April 9, 2023 and gave a spectacular 2-hour show in the World Trade Center of Curacao.

Advantage of the shows in the World Trade Center Curacao is that the capacity of the exhibition hall is only 1,200. That gives the public the opportunity to experience the bands very close up. You cannot have this experience in other bigger venues anywhere in the world....

Photos (12)

Posters (21)

Past concerts

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Adrienne Arsht Center

View all past concerts

Grupo Niche tour dates and tickets 2024-2025 near you

Want to see Grupo Niche in concert? Find information on all of Grupo Niche’s upcoming concerts, tour dates and ticket information for 2024-2025.

Grupo Niche is not due to play near your location currently - but they are scheduled to play 29 concerts across 8 countries in 2024-2025. View all concerts.

Next 3 concerts:

• Valledupar, Colombia
• New Orleans, LA, US
• Salt Lake City, UT, US

Next concert:

Popularity ranking:

• Nipsey Hussle (3612)
• Grupo Niche (3613)
• Buju Banton (3614)

Concerts played in 2024:

Touring history

Most played:

• Los Angeles (LA) (30)
• New York (NYC) (24)
• SF Bay Area (20)
• Mexico City (9)

Appears most with:

• El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico (13)
• Jerry Rivera (8)
• Willie Colon (8)
• Tito Nieves (6)
• Victor Manuelle (6)

Distance travelled:

Similar artists

• Most popular charts
• API information
• Brand guidelines
• Community guidelines
• Terms of use
• Privacy policy
• Cookies settings
• Cookies policy

Get your tour dates seen everywhere.

• But we really hope you love us.

This thematic research report takes an in-depth look at the theme of niche tourism and the impact it has on the travel and tourism industry. This report analyzes the players impacted by this theme alongside the contributing trends, negative destination trends, unintended opportunities, and trends that have emerged as a result of niche tourism. It then dives deep into an industry analysis, presenting several real-life case studies looking at how destinations and companies have responded to the impact of this theme on their operations. Recommendations are then offered for the travel sector, alongside a description of companies mentioned throughout.

Key Highlights

Niche tourism is now recognized across the entire industry, with many companies looking to differentiate their brand from others. Niche tourism has many similarities with the experience economy because niche tourists are constantly searching for engaging and unique experiences that match their interests.

COVID-19 has altered traveler demands, which has created an opportunity for tourism businesses to innovate and develop their product. Many people have been confined to homeworking, lockdowns, and social distancing intermittently for the past few years, creating a desire to enjoy wider, 'greener' spaces while engaging with others. As a result, there is a significant opportunity for niche tourism companies involved in rural and adventure tourism to grow their product.

Niche tourism has the opportunity to set any company or destination apart, providing the ability to differentiate itself in the hypercompetitive travel landscape today. There are identifiable examples across the travel and tourism supply chain where embracing a niche can increase brand awareness and aid its competitive position. Leaders in the field have identified a specific target market and can offer an alternative product to the traditional sun and beach holiday, which adequately meets the niche tourist needs.

Niche tourism can be divided into both 'macro' and 'micro' niches. What is most prevalent is that this is a complete shift away from the traditional mass tourism model where tourists simply walk into a travel agent store and book a sun and beach holiday. The four macro niches identified here are environmental, cultural, urban, and emerging niche themes. Under each macro niche, there is a list of micro-niches that function as a traveler's inspiration today.

There are many niche tourism types including adventure tourism, dark tourism, eco-tourism, gastronomic tourism, agri-tourism and rural tourism.

Who should buy?

CEOs, Senior Executives, and Marketing Executives within travel and tourism should use this report to understand the highly important theme of Niche tourism.

• This thematic report provides an overview of the impact niche tourism has on the travel sector and seeks to understand some of the contributory factors.
• The key trends within this theme are split into three categories: consumer trends, enterprise trends, and industry trends.
• Several case studies are included to analyze the multiple ways countries and companies have responded to the impact of this theme's growth and what they are doing to grow with this theme.

Reasons to Buy

• Understand the current niche tourism trends within the travel landscape today and how these will escalate in the near future.
• Assess how travel and tourism companies such as tour operators, OTAs and DMOs are utilizing niche tourism to drive revenues.
• Acknowledge the potential pitfalls of using niche tourism by understanding the social, cultural, and environmental effects on the destination.
• Discover recommendations for businesses involved in niche tourism
• The publisher's thematic research ecosystem is a single, integrated global research platform that provides an easy-to-use framework for tracking all themes across all companies in all sectors. It has a proven track record of identifying the important themes early, enabling companies to make the right investments ahead of the competition, and secure that all-important competitive advantage.
• All across the travel and tourism supply chain, now have an opportunity to capitalize on niche tourism, and there are notable examples of this. Therefore, all should buy this report to fully understand how this theme will continue to be a key theme in the future travel landscape.

A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes

• Alux Caverna Lounge
• Booking Holdings
• British Airways
• Carnival Corporation
• Celebrity Cruises
• Chernobyl Tour
• Comcast Corp
• Despagar.com Group
• Expedia Group
• Friendly Planet Travel
• GAdventures
• Genting Malaysia
• Gourmet on Tour
• Hays Travel
• Hemingway's Lounge
• Intrepid Travel
• Kimpton Hotels
• Merlin Entertainments
• Las Vegas Sands
• MGM Resorts International
• Miral Asset Group
• Norwegian Cruise Lines
• Makemytrip.com
• On the Beach
• Rainforest Cafe
• Responsible Travel
• SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment
• SIM Holdings
• Soviet Tours
• The Northern Lights Bar
• Virgin Atlantic
• United Airlines
• Universal Studios
• Walt Disney
• Wynn Resorts
• Young Pioneer Tours

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ka5j1t

Source: GlobalData

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

Special Interest Tourism: Find Your Niche

Special interest tourism (SIT) is on the rise, and for good reason. It provides travelers the chance to explore their passions and gives you the opportunity to curate a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Special interest tourism focuses on providing leisure and adventure activities that cater to the needs of a specific audience. Tapping into your special interest niche will connect you to a smaller, yet highly-devoted audience. Think quality over quantity. 

In a sector that celebrates individuality and personalization, there is something for everyone. Special interest tourism examples range from spiritual, adventure, and food tourism to military, nostalgia, and lighthouse tourism. These are just a few examples from the long list of special interest tourism options – you just have to find the niche that works for you and your audience! 

What does SIT look like in 2022? The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a shift in consciousness that has changed the way that travelers want to explore their destinations. In the summer of 2020, Booking.com conducted a global survey with 60 percent of respondents saying they would use an app or website that recommended itineraries where tours would have a positive impact on locals. Special interest tourism concepts and cases have shifted as travelers are increasingly concerned about the impact of their travels on the climate and local community. 

Top Types of Special Interest Tourism

Environmental tourism:.

As sustainability remains a chief driver in SIT, environmental tourism has emerged as a dominant niche. Often referred to as ecotourism, sustainable tourism and responsible tourism, environmental tourism focuses on activities that don’t compromise the needs of future generations. Environmental tourism is at the forefront of special interest tourism trends and will continue to grow in demand. 

In its 2025 Megatrends prediction report, Skift reveals how this is already influencing travel decisions. In a global survey, 51 percent of respondents claimed they would change their chosen travel destination and head instead to a less-popular one if that decision would have less of an adverse environmental impact.

Some online travel agencies and tour operators now offer guests the option of dedicating a day or two of their trip to activities like helping to construct a local water purification system or planting trees along shorelines devastated by hurricanes. 

Adventure Tourism:

According to Future Market Insights , adventure tourism is resilient and supports local economies by attracting high-value customers. With an increasing number of Millennial and Gen-Z travelers who prefer adventure sports, adventure tourism is creating a lucrative scope for expansion in the activities segment.  Adventure tourism activities vary in risk and difficulty and can include hiking, backpacking, climbing, mountain biking and snowshoeing. 

Wellness Tourism:

Wellness tourism is a growing industry, supported by travelers actively seeking ways to enhance their well-being. Dating back to the ancient baths in Rome, traveling for the purpose of improving our well-being has always been a priority, and now there are seemingly endless ways to provide customers with a wellness-centered experience. Whether it’s nutrient-rich food, a trip to a natural hot spring, or meditation and yoga, wellness tourism is an attractive niche for travelers because the desire for self-improvement is part of being human.  

Finding your special interest niche 

What is unique about your tours that makes you stand out? What values do you share with your customers? These are things to consider when choosing your niche. For example, female-run Travel Insights offers “Wander Women” tours. These all-female trips are centered around local women’s businesses and achievements, focusing on those who work within their communities to sustain their culture, heritage and the planet’s future. This is brilliant for a number of reasons: it ties into the growing desire for sustainable tourism, while allowing female travelers to develop lasting relationships with other like-minded women. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we all need connection in our lives. 

You know your audience better than anyone, so why not consider personalizing your tour packages? According to Think With Google , nearly 57% of travelers are in favor of personalizing their buying experiences based on their personal preferences. It might be wise to think of ways that you can offer flexible packages and tailor them to suit the traveler’s needs. There is a rising demand for personalization, and it will aid in the expansion of the market in the coming years.

We see this happening in Kenya, which is home to over 3000 tour operators offering safari excursions. This has led many operators to begin incorporating unique features to meet their customer’s needs. On top of seeing wildlife, a customer might be passionate about food, so they might consider pairing their tour with culinary lunches and dinners. Or perhaps they value wellness, so an operator might pair their tour with yoga classes. The possibilities are endless!

Another great way to find your niche is to focus on your local area. Consider the heritage sites , national parks, or landmarks in your region that make it special. Are there any sites in your area that have been formally recognized? A popular destination in adventure tourism is the hike across the Grand Canyon rim-to-rim trail, which was made even more popular in 2019 when it was declared an International Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association.

Awards like this are worth noting because they increase tourist popularity and attract people based on the title alone. Chances are you’re already aware of how amazing your area is, and it’s already accessible to you, so think of the ways that you like to enjoy it, and build your niche around makes you passionate about where you live. 

Reaching the right audience

With special interest tourism, you’re not providing an experience for the masses and your marketing should reflect that. You want your messaging to reach those who will appreciate what you have to offer and get excited to book with you. In order to target your audience, you need to know who they are. Consider factors like their budget, age, gender, values and interests. The great thing about having a niche is that it allows you to become an expert in that area, and with expertise comes credibility. 

Once you have chosen your niche, you can focus your research to pinpoint exactly what your audience is looking for and market to them accordingly. If you are a smaller business, consider moving to an online booking system rather than booking over the phone or in person.  Online analytics can give you the data you need to make a big impact even with a small marketing budget.

Social media is also a great way for small businesses to market to their audience. Not only is it relatively inexpensive, but content is also targeted towards users based on their tastes and preferences. There are a number of ways to promote your tour on social media . With the right strategy and audience information, you’ll attract business organically. 

Making special interest tourism work for you

The beauty of special interest tourism is that you can focus all your attention on one thing and really excel in a specific area. Lasting relationships are formed with your customers because you understand their needs and interests. You’ll gain credibility by having a clear mission and executing it well. The importance of special interest tourism is that it gives travelers the chance to bond with like-minded people and form genuine connections, and in a disconnected world, that is invaluable. 

Written By | Caitlyn McGee

Caitlyn is Vancouver-based freelance writer covering the tourism industry. With a Communication Studies degree, she specializes in digital and content marketing.

Previous Article Your Marketing Mix: the 7 Ps of Travel and Tourism Marketing

Next Article Thoughtful pricing strategies for tour operators

Related Posts

Articles , Increase Online Bookings , Tourism Trends

Set-jetting, forest bathing, and hush trips: 20 innovative tourism business ideas and trends for 2023.

Articles , Increase Online Bookings , Marketing Strategies

Your marketing mix: the 7 ps of travel and tourism marketing.

Articles , Increase Online Bookings , Tourism Best Practices

Advantages and disadvantages of online travel agencies (otas), search the blog.

• All Categories
• Marketing Strategies
• Tourism Trends

Most Popular Articles

• Set-jetting, Forest Bathing, and Hush Trips: 20 Innovative Tourism Business Ideas and Trends for 2023 109 views
• Your Marketing Mix: the 7 Ps of Travel and Tourism Marketing 50 views
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) 35 views
• How to Create and Promote Amazing Tour Packages 21 views
• The Ultimate Free Guide to Starting a Food Tour Business 15 views

I have read and agree to the Rezgo Privacy Policy

GET STARTED

Sign-up for a free demo.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmo tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Schedule A Demo

7 Travel Niche Ideas for Tour Operators

Travel is finally getting back on track. This means a restart for many travel companies that were halted since the pandemic started. The question is: how to start again in a market that has changed and fight competition that is more fierce than ever? Pivoting your product to a travel niche might be the answer.

In this article you will learn what a travel niche is, its benefits, travel niche ideas and how to choose the right niche for your business.

What is a travel niche?

A travel niche is a subcategory of travel that is suitable for a small group of people. It’s the opposite of mass tourism.

According to the Tourism Teacher Blog :

Niche tourism can be defined as ‘an umbrella tourism form, which identifies macro and micro tourism segments appealing to a specific group of travellers’.

Tour operators selling travel niche products are small or specialized businesses . They are focused on a fraction of the tourism industry.

Examples of niched tour operators are:

• Adventure tour operators
• Ecotour agencies
• Food tour operators
• Motorcycle tour operators
• Operators focused on pet-friendly activities

Ok, now that you know what a travel niche is, you might be asking yourself:

Why should I invest my time and money in a niched product if I could target a larger audience?

That’s what we will answer next.

Advantages of working with travel niches

Travel niche operators are seen as experts in their area. This is very positive for your business. Especially if you are a small operator or working with a limited budget.

Being an expert means:

Better marketing results

Speaking directly to a small audience that shares the same demographics and interests makes your message stand out from the competition. In other words, you will be able to make a bigger impact with a lower budget.

Less competition

Someone who is searching for a food tour, or a slow tourism experience, for example, will prefer to book with a specialized operator rather than booking with a mass tourism agency. Furthermore, how many specialized operators do you know in your destination?

More loyal customers

Travelers interested in niched experiences are usually loyal to the brands they buy. Loyal travelers can become recurring customers and help promote your services through word of mouth.

Better profit margins

When you have authority in your area you can charge premium prices for your products. Furthermore, travelers looking for a niche experience are willing to pay more for it.

Expand your distribution channels

You will be able to sell on traditional OTA’s as well as on travel-focused OTA’s. Niched OTA’s address specific needs that niched audiences have, for example, they provide expert customer service.

Make a positive impact on your destination

Niche tourism is often viewed as being a more positive form of tourism than mass tourism. Niched travelers are usually more conscious of their impact when traveling, and guiding a smaller group will demand fewer resources from the host community.

Are you convinced that niche tourism is for your business? If yes, let’s check some travel niche ideas.

Travel niche ideas tour operators can work with

Niche tourism is a space of endless possibilities. For every business idea, there is a group of people waiting to consume it.

Let’s take a look at 7 travel niche ideas you can invest your money and time.

1. Dark tourism

Believe it or not, there are people who enjoy travel experiences focused on death, disaster, tragedy, destruction, and the macabre. This travel niche receives the name dark tourism.

But there is an explanation for people being interested in this type of tourism.

It’s human nature to be curious about something that we don’t understand. Dark tourism is about that, visiting places with an interesting or intriguing history .

Many travelers search for this type of experience in order to learn the place’s history or to understand something grim. Others are only looking for a bigger philosophical depth when visiting such places.

TV shows also have something to do with the recent popularization of dark tourism. In the past years, Pripyat, a small Ukranian city, has experienced a boom in tourists after HBO’s TV series Chernobyl .

If you want to design a dark tourism product, look after local sites with an obscure history.

Once you find them, the next step is creating interesting and compelling storytelling that will captivate your future guests. 

2. Halal tourism

Do you have a deep understanding of the Islamic traveler and culture? If yes, this might be your space.

Halal tourism is the travel niche dedicated to Muslim tourists who abide by the rules of Islam. 

Travel products focused on Halal travelers are alcohol and pork-free, include prayer timings, and offer separate services for men and women.

This market represents 50 million consumers only in Europe and over 1.6 billion worldwide . Despite its huge potential, Halal tourism is underrated in western countries.

Food tour operators can stand out in this segment by applying for halal certification . This document states that the food on your tour follows the Muslim rites of preparation and packaging.

3. Agro-tourism

People who like visiting working farms or other agricultural sites for the purpose of enjoyment or education are into agro-tourism.

Don’t fool yourself, agro-tourism is a growing market. Its growth is connected to the high demand for outdoor experiences and people’s urge to connect with nature.

Examples of activities related to agro-tourism are:

• Wildlife study
• Horseback riding
• Cannery tours
• Cooking classes
• Wine tasting
• Cut-your-own Christmas tree farms
• Petting zoos.

If you got excited about the idea but don’t have a rural property, don’t worry, you can partner with local producers. I’m sure many farmers in your destination are looking to diversify their activities and increase profits.

4. Ethnic tourism

This travel niche is supported by many countries interested in facilitating the economic and cultural development of minority groups , often Indigenous communities.

Examples of communities that attract tourists include the Amish of the United States, the First Nation societies of Canada and North America, and the Maori of New Zealand.

Ethnic tourism is intended for travelers seeking a deep connection with their ancestors. Also for the ones that love discovering new cultures, rituals and gastronomy.

If you operate in an area close to a native or traditional community, investing in ethnic tourism might be a good idea. 

A survey conducted by the Australian government found that tourists that experienced ethnic tourism showed a high level of satisfaction and an interest in further ethnic tourism experiences.

5. Armchair tourism

A travel niche that has grown after the pandemic is armchair tourism. But what is that?

This term refers to travelers that want to explore the world from the comfort of their homes . This makes it easier to understand why this trend has become popular during a period when people were unable to travel.

Amid lockdowns, the industry had to adapt to the new reality. The result was the development of travel experiences based on technologies such as virtual reality and augmented reality.

Many destinations and travel brands use this type of tourism as marketing material to attract visitors and guests. For your information, more than 2500 museums worldwide have a virtual tour for anyone interested and most are free of charge.

If you wanna try this travel niche, start by offering a virtual version of your tours. Platforms like Viator have a section on their website dedicated to virtual experiences.

6. Stargazing tourism

Do you like staring at a star-filled sky during the night? If you don’t, probably you know someone who does.

Stargazing tourism embraces a market focused on this public. There are many locations worldwide with beautiful skies that travelers would love to experience.

Alaska, Iceland and Norway, for example, are popular destinations for this type of tourism. There, travelers can appreciate the beautiful show of the northern lights.

The clean sky of desertic areas also makes them great for stargazing. No wonder Utah and Chile are home to famous observatories and telescopes. Dark Ranger Telescope Tours is a great example of an operator who learned how to capitalize on the beautiful sky above the desert.

7. Women solo adventures

How about focusing your business on a micro niche?

Over time, many operators opened their eyes to the importance of women in travel and created offers dedicated to this public. But you can be more specific than just designing tours for women.

There is an unexplored segment inside this market for solo female travelers looking for adrenaline . That is women solo adventures tourism.

That sounds promising, right?

But don’t think that starting a business that specific is an easy task. First, you will need to understand what a solo woman looking for adventure wants to experience and work hard to ensure that your guests will have an amazing, safe and enjoyable time during their trip.

Which travel niche to choose?

A travel niche doesn’t need to be something completely new, complicated, or too specific. Specializing your business in a certain demographic, destination, or type of travel should do the trick.

In order to choose the right travel niche to venture into, you should get some things straight.

What are you passionate about?

Narrowing down your service means working with something that you love . This sounds like a dream, doesn’t it?

After all, if you want to become an expert in your area you should have a deep understanding of the field you will be working with.

Who are your customers?

You should know your audience like the back of your hand. If you have no clue about who your ideal customer is, you should check out this blog .

Knowing your audience is essential to create an unforgettable experience. Also, you need this knowledge to guide your marketing efforts.

Which travel niche suits you better?

The perfect niche for your business is the one that fulfills the points previously listed.

Host Agency Reviews has created a list of travel niches that is worth taking a look at. Maybe you can find the perfect niche for your business there.

If you are still unsure about which type of niche to choose, they also have a worksheet to help you with that. If the worksheet looks complicated, check out their guide which explains how to use it.

Travel niche trends are to become more mainstream in the future travel space. Mainly due to the needs of the post-pandemic traveler, who is avoiding mass tourism products and looking to connect with the place they visit.

In this blog we gave 7 travel niche ideas for tour operators to focus their business on:

• Dark tourism
• Halal tourism
• Agro-tourism
• Ethnic tourism
• Armchair tourism
• Stargazing tourism
• Women solo adventures

If you got inspired by any of these, or if you find out another travel niche to focus on, the first step is extensively studying the market you want to work with.

Once you have a niche product ready to sell, the next step is to plan your marketing strategy to reach your ideal customer. Don’t have a big budget for marketing? No problem.

Download now our ebook Low Budget Digital Marketing Strategies for Tour Operators and learn strategies to boost your digital marketing efforts at a low and even zero cost for your business.

ORIOLY on September 28, 2022

by Felipe Fonseca

Subscribe to our newsletter

Receive the latest news and resources in your inbox

Thank you for subscribing the newsletter

Low Budget Digital Marketing Strategies for Tour Operators

In this ebook you will learn strategies to boost your digital marketing efforts, and the best part, at a low and even zero cost for your business.

The Ultimate Guide to Mastering Trip Advisor

TripAdvisor is an excellent tool to sell tours and activities online and this guide will teach everything you need to know to master it.

A Simple Guide on How to Sell Tours With Facebook

Zuckerberg’s platform is by far the most popular among all social media. So why not selling tours and activities with Facebook help?

Comprehensive Guide on Digital Marketing in Tourism for 2021

Online marketing is a new thing and it changes fast, for that reason we made this eBook where we compiled the latest online marketing trends in tourism!

Other resources

Live Virtual Tours: Everything You Need

5 Channel Ideas to Sell your Tours

How to start a food tour business, related articles.

7 Tips to Get More Bookings From Gen Z Travelers

As Gen Z’s influence in travel grows, adapting to these shifts is not just advantageous—it’s imperative to success in the travel industry.

Unlocking Global Reach: The Ultimate Guide to OTAs for Tour Operators

Explore key strategies for tour providers to partner with OTAs like GetYourGuide and Viator, enhancing visibility and bookings.

New year, new Orioly version! 

Discover the latest Orioly update: simplified departure management, customizable widgets and multilingual bookings. Improve efficiency in tour and activity management. Follow our blog for more!

The Ultimate JDM Daikoku Tour & GTR Supercar Experience in Tokyo

Discover Japan in a whole new way with our passionate and knowledgeable guides. Our fully individualized tours take you beyond the famous highways, offering an in-depth look at the rich history and current state of JDM car culture.

Uncover hidden gems and popular hotspots with expert guidance. From well-known spots like Autobacs, Daikoku PA, Shibaura PA, Tatsumi PA and Umihotaru to exclusive underground locations, we offer an unparalleled experience for your dollar. Don’t settle for typical tours or private car rides – join us to explore it all and let us share the experience as a local!

Experience Something Different While on Holiday in Japan

Explore Japan's Amazing Car Scene

Break free from the mundane touristy routines and ignite your senses with an adrenaline-pumping adventure through the vibrant Japanese car scene! Immerse yourself in the heart-pounding world of local automotive culture and experience the rush of a lifetime!

Bookings Made Easy

Booking with us is safe & easy

Pick a tour package.

Explore our carefully curated selection of tours and choose the one that best suits your needs and fits your available dates and send us a message to confirm details and availability.

Confirm Details & Pay

We will confirm the booking details and we will send through an invoice or pay online using our safe payment method along with a confirmation of your tour for the day.

Enjoy the Experience!

After confirming your booking, we will reach out to you directly with all the tour details. Now, sit back, relax, and get ready to embark on an incredible experience!

Why Niche Drive Tours

More than just getting you to Daikoku car meets

Discover What Sets Us Apart from Other car tours in Tokyo and the Value We Bring to Your Travel Plans…

Exclusive Access to JDM Car Culture:

With 20+ years of local Japanese car culture exposure, our tours offer insider access to unique and niche car culture insights only known by those in the car scene

Professional Experts

Tours are designed, managed and operated by genuine car enthusiasts with first hand knowledge and experience in the automotive scene - get the full immersion with us!

All-Inclusive Pricing & No Hidden Charges

Experience the reassurance of transparent pricing with all-inclusive pricing. There are no additional charges, fees or changes to our packages

Peace of Mind

Enjoy peace of mind knowing that you are booked with a registered and established business and that your tour plans with us will happen just as you planned it

Comfort & Exclusivity

Travel in style and comfort with our fleet of personally owned late model vehicles. Unlike other solo operators, we do not resort to renting basic minivans or overcrowd our vehicles

100% Cancellation Policy

We offer a 100% refund policy; cancel up to 14 days before the start time for a full refund no questions asked. We also offer 24 hour cancellations due to bad weather effecting the tours

JDM Daikoku & GTR SuperCar Exeriences

Top 3 Popular Tour Packages

Tokyo & Daikoku JDM Night Tour (Shared Group)

Starts From

JPY 33,000 per person

What You’ll Do:

Get ready for an amazing night of JDM car culture as we take you on an adventure from Tokyo to a cool car parts JDM mega store to Daikoku in Yokohama to join the car meet and meet the owners!

Private Supercar & GTR Tours: Night Tour (4 hours)

Jpy 80,000 per group, join an exhilarating 4-hour gtr or supercar tour in tokyo. experience the vibrant city and breathtaking views with a the actual owner. chat and learn about the ride and japanese car culture and enjoy something different.

Tokyo & Daikoku JDM Night Tour (Private Group)

Jpy 190,000 per group of 6, exclusive private group tour from tokyo to daikoku. embark on a tailored adventure with iconic pit stops and visit a fascinating car parts jdm mega store. unforgettable memories await your group.

Guest Testimonials

Guest Positive Reviews

Definitely take this tour if you want someone experienced to show you a taste of the car scene in the Tokyo area. Friday's and Saturday's are the better days for tons of cars, but Sundays are good too to talk to cool car owners

My hubby and teens had a once in a lifetime night—one of THOSE nights!! I wanted something unique and Niche did not disappoint. Thank you so much for showing out for them. I might forever be known as Cool Vacation Mom for this experience!! [drops the Mommy mic]

This is the most amazing part of our trip to Tokyo and such a great experience. Ken is funny and personable and made the tour and experience 10 times better too! It was super cool to part of the Daikoku JDM scene and to see all the super cool cars in person. If you're not a gear head, that's totally fine bcos Ken shares so many stories of Tokyo as well and I learned so much. Definitely a 10/10 experience and will reccommend this to friends!

highly recommend the JDM Daikoku nights tour with Niche!! He reached out once we booked our tour to find out what interested us and if there was anything in particular we were looking to see on our tour. Such a wonderful experience. We would book another tour with him with zero hesitation. If you want a comfortable tour to the heart of the JDM scene this one is hands down the way to go. Book it - you will not be disappointed!

Me and my 12 y.o. son totally loved it. This is must have tour if you are interested in JDM cars, but new to Japan. Also this tour is kids friendly, which is important if you are travelling with kids and they are also interested in JDM cars 🙂

If you are a car enthusiast don't miss this tour. Super flexible to schedule the tour. Very friendly, he will tell you tons of anecdotes and facts about cars and Japan that make the tour memorable. I recommend the two different vibes, car meet in the evening and car meet on Sunday morning which is more classic cars. Both are fun. Thank you for this exceptional tour!

Fun and eye-opening experience for the family of a 14-year-old car enthusiast. Niche accommodated the interests of my children ages 11, 14 and 18 provided comfortable transportation for the 5 of us to all the interesting places we visited!

This experience was my BEST NIGHT IN JAPAN.!! I knew NOTHING about cars but walked away knowing more than the average person 😌 Ken taught me so much!! He was super attentive and tried to find what we each liked/wanted to see. He told us so many crazy stories and gave insight on car culture in Japan, things I could’ve only learned through this experience being a tourist in the country. Ken talks from experience and was super enjoyable to listen to and converse with! We all got comfortable quick and laughed the whole car ride!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND, no cons whatsoever

非常有意思且与众不同的体验。Niche是一位非常有趣、有耐心、有很细心的向导，他的讲解非常细致、专业，他对改装车文化的理解也非常的独到。一路上Niche还会给我们介绍东京的生活，带我们看最好的夜景，和其他成员的互动也很好。Niche还是一位非常专业的摄影师，他会不经意间抓拍一些非常生动的照片。非常值得尝试！我已经推荐给好几位朋友

Got answers to questions I didn't know I had and see cars that I would only dream about. Visits to some mint private locations and major public spots. Saw more than I expected and learned a whole lot more with the stories shared and personal experience of the guide. If you get the time, book this tour!!! I did look at other cheaper tours and saw them at one of the locations. Glad I went with this option

<This experience was one of the highlights of our trip! What a unique way to learn about the local culture and the history of the Javanese car scene! Ken and Shannon were amazing hosts- very friendly, knowledgeable, and humorous. We had an amazing time getting to know them

<If you are even remotely interested in the Japanese car scene, you should book this experience. I was able to spend a Friday night riding through Japan’s famous highways, visiting super car collections, autobacs shop, and finally ending at the famous Daikoku parking area. The night at Daikoku was lively and filled with beautiful classic JDM cars as well as European cars as well. Everyone was nice and I was able to take some amazing pictures of the parking area. Niche provided us with great background as well as personal stories of the Japanese car scene. Meeting with Niche was easy and he dropped me off near my hotel. Definitely worth the money especially if you don’t have an International Drivers Permit

REACH OUT DIRECTLY

Questions? Contact us for a quick reply

Feel free to drop us a message anything. We’ll happily help with any questions or tour inquiries you may have!

Tokyo-based tour company, where we offer an array of exciting and immersive experiences to satisfy every car enthusiast’s dream. At Niche Tours, we pride ourselves on providing unparalleled JDM & Daikoku Tours, Supercar Experiences, and Private Tours that take you beyond the ordinary, off the beaten path, and deep into the heart of Japan’s wonderland

• Tour Packages
• JDM Daikoku PA Car Meet Tour
• Private JDM Daikoku Tour
• Supercar Experience Tour
• Private Drifter Tour
• Terms of Service
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Business
• 特定商取引法に基づく表記
• +81 70 9099 9357
• [email protected]
• Niche Tours (Niche Drive)
• 2-chome Nagatacho, Chiyoda-ku
• Tokyo, Japan

Business Hours

• Open Daily: 9.00 AM - 9.00 PM

Copyright © 2023 Niche Tours (Niche Drive)

Visit campus with Niche & The College Tour

The College Tour is a TV series brought to you by an award-winning team of TV producers. Covering campus life, academics, housing, sports, activities, and more, each episode tells the story of a single college through the lens of its current students. Join us for intro segment tours of colleges and universities that will show you what it’s really like on campus! Full episodes can be viewed on The College Tour’s website. To learn more about your favorites, click on the college’s name to explore their Niche Profile.

• Upcoming Women’s Tours
• About The Tours
• Testimonials
• Tour Registration
• Meet Our Tour Hosts

"The purpose of life is to live it, to taste it, to experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” - Eleanor Roosevelt

Do you dream of experiencing sunrise over the Taj Mahal, shopping the markets of Paris, biking wine trails of southern France or seeing the picturesque Cinque Terre? Join us and we guarantee that your experience will be unlike any other! Our tours are for women of all ages – single, divorced, widowed or married who wish to travel independently but prefer not to travel alone. We specialize in tours full of unique experiences with the safety of travelling in a small group.

Upcoming Tours

Northern capitals of europe.

September 14 to 23, 2025

Best of Morocco

May 11 to May 21, 2025

Iberian Odyssey: Spain & Portugal with Jane Johnston

May 4 to 18, 2025

View All Tours

Atmosphere has defined a niche corner of underground 'dad rap' for decades

F rom college radio stations in 1996 to Epitaph and MTV in the 2000s, Atmosphere heralded the wave of introspective underground rap. The prolific duo, rapper Sean Daley (Slug) and producer Anthony Davis (Ant), returns to Cincinnati this week. I recently spoke with Daley about his upbringing in Minneapolis, his cheeky self-aware lyrical style and about his collaborations with Ant and others.

Q: Congratulations on the new EP. How much of Atmosphere's production is collaboration? Do you focus on the vocals and Ant on the tracks?

A: I would say the production is 95% Anthony and 5% Sean, and the lyrics are 95% Sean and 5% Anthony. Once in a while, Ant will be like, "Can you not say the word ‘fart’?” I'll be like, “What if we took the high hat out for eight bars?” He might be like, “Hey, this song sounds like this.” And whenever he does that, I take heart because I know that it means the music is very important to him. I'm going to go out of my way to give him something that he'll love forever. 

Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

We don't talk about what the artist thinks about an album 20 years later. It's important to think like that in the present. What can I make today that I’ll believe in forever? Me, specifically, there's hella rhymes I said in the past that I don't even say anymore when I perform that song.

Q: What's an example of that?

A: The whole first album, "Overcast!" You were hearing the voice of somebody who didn't think anybody would ever hear or care what he's saying. I'm making an album just because I want to. I didn't think about it in terms of how I’m going to feel about this later. When you're young, you just turn it on and go. 

I love the album because of what it did, because of what it meant, because of how other people used it in their lives. I love that they were able to pull things from me just being who I was at the time. But there's things I say on there that I change the words to all the way up through "Seven's Travels."

I started to catch on to this notion right around the mohawk record, which was called, "You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having." Things in my world, in my life were taking place that really forced me to take a hard look at what I was contributing. I can't clean my plate of the things that I've done, but I can make sure that the moves that I make in the future consider as many different parts of who I am as possible.

Q: You grew up in Minneapolis. Was there something in particular to your upbringing or to the music scene there that led you to make your flavor of rap music?

A: In the mid-'80s, there were a couple of radio shows here. KFAI had a show – the DJ's name was Master B. He would go out to New York regularly and get records and then break them here because you couldn't hear those songs on regular commercial radio. Then another one, a Black-owned station called KMOJ, also on the far left of the dial, had a show called "The Hip-Hop Shop."

Master B's show was on late Friday night, and "The Hip-Hop Shop" was on from 3 to 6 on Saturday. So once you get out of school Friday, all the way up until Sunday morning, it was all about those two radio shows. This is like '85 to '88. It was just all about sitting there with my little tape recorder ready to record the next song. You would wait for the first couple of notes to the first couple of drums. I have hundreds of songs that were all missing the first two seconds. 

Where I lived in Minneapolis was a mixed neighborhood. There were Black families, there were white families and there were mixed families, and everybody there knew we're all just working our ass off. All the kids got along. It was a very special way for me to grow up because it taught me a lot at an early age, just accidentally, kids just taking stuff in. 

Growing up there, breakdancing was the thing. We lived in a corner house on a busy street. So we would end up congregating in my front yard to breakdance. As far as the validation of getting people to honk, I learned that by age 10. Then somebody decided to start drawing on the cardboard. Before you knew it, I was into graffiti. 

With graffiti, you're bonding because, A, the fear of getting caught, B, the I don't give a f---ness, C, the self-taught, D, the validation, et cetera. I was never that good at it. I was never that good at breakdancing or DJing. I was never that good at rapping. We'd do it in the hallway – take somebody else's song and recreate it.

Rap was the easiest because I could do it without any money. Girls didn't care about graffiti. Girls didn't care about DJing so much. You played the song they wanted to hear, they cared. When I started rapping, random girls started giving me validation. 

"God Loves Ugly" was what you might call our breakout record. I was 30 when that record came out. I had already given up on being a rapper. So when I make jokes about how "Overcast!" and "Lucy Ford" are full of things that I wish I hadn't said, it's because back then nobody cared what I was saying. 

Q: What's the etymology of using the name “Lucy” for Lucifer?

A: “Lucy” was a reference to a person I knew. And the “Ford” part was because I was just looking for a way to take Lucy and turn it into the devil. There was a woman named Lucy Ford – and her ties to rehab, but I ran with it strictly as a way to personify the devil. I wasn't trying to suggest that this person I knew had anything to do with it. 

Sometimes when you're trying to be clever, you’re corny. I started calling my s--- “dad rap.” It was before Jay-Z and Nas and everybody else started getting called “dad rap.” My label hated that I was saying it. I wanted it to be fun. It turned out when more people heard it, they took it and they gave it their own interpretation. 

Every time I had the chance to talk to a journalist or whatever, I tried to make my case for how this stuff was being misinterpreted, and nobody wanted to hear it. The story was, “Self-Deprecating Rapper from Minneapolis Invents Emo-Rap.” There was an interview with Deep Puddle Dynamics, where I coined the phrase, we're making “emo rap.” I worked in a record store, so I knew you had to label things. 

Funkmaster Wizzard Wiz had a song called "Bellevue Patient," where he rhymed from the space of being somebody who was locked in an insane asylum. It touched on depression in a way that had never been touched. Certain communities weren't ready to accept that they had depression. He might have accidentally invented emo rap.

Q: How do you pick who to collaborate with? Are there things you look for in particular in an artist's lyrics or beats, or is it more your personal connections, and then the creativity spawns from that thing?

A: Anthony’ll give me a beat, and I might all of a sudden be like, “You know who would sound good on here?" And he'll be like, "Oh, yeah. I cosign that.” That's where Atmosphere songs that have features originate. I check in with him. I only do features for friends. You can't buy a verse from me as a stranger.

What I don't like with features is feeling pressure. It's crazy, considering I'm pretty prolific with features. I've done hundreds. I don't like to take money for features because I don't like the pressure to deliver something amazing. I would much rather just give you what I want to do.

Atmosphere - Tour De Friends Part Deux

When: 7 p.m. Friday, April 26.

Where: Bogart’s, 2621 Short Vine St., Corryville.

Tickets: $41.75-$78.45.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Atmosphere has defined a niche corner of underground 'dad rap' for decades

• Personal Finance
• Today's Paper
• Partner Content
• Entertainment
• Social Viral
• Pro Kabaddi League

Sponsored Content

"Unshackled Campus Tour" to Empower Talent Mobility from Across The World to the United States and Beyond

Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content

Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel

First Published: Apr 26 2024 | 5:10 PM IST

Explore News

• Suzlon Energy Share Price Adani Enterprises Share Price Adani Power Share Price IRFC Share Price Tata Motors Share Price Tata Steel Share Price Yes Bank Share Price Infosys Share Price SBI Share Price Tata Power Share Price HDFC Bank Share Price
• Latest News Company News Market News India News Politics News Cricket News Personal Finance Technology News World News Industry News Education News Opinion Shows Economy News Lifestyle News Health News
• Today's Paper About Us T&C Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Disclaimer Investor Communication GST registration number List Compliance Contact Us Advertise with Us Sitemap Subscribe Careers BS Apps
• Budget 2024 Lok Sabha Election 2024 IPL 2024 Pro Kabaddi League IPL Points Table 2024

Slow shooting, inconsistent defense drop Duke women's lacrosse out of ACC tournament against Boston College

No. 6-seed Duke faced No. 3-seed Boston College Wednesday night in the quarterfinals of the ACC tournament, seeking to avenge its 18-3 loss one month prior. The Eagles, however, took command early and kept their feet on the gas, spoiling Duke’s revenge tour and sending the Blue Devils packing out of Charlotte with a 19-5 loss.

Duke’s offense lacked composure and fire power with seven turnovers and just three shots in the first frame, and senior attacker and Tewaaraton Award nominee Katie DeSimone had a quiet day with just one shot and no points for the first time this season. Despite this, Duke (10-8, 4-5 in the ACC) only trailed 4-2 after the first quarter thanks to senior midfielder Katie Keller and graduate attacker Caroline DeBellis. But Boston College (14-3, 7-2) opened the second quarter with a five-goal run and never let up. Unable to win possessions on the draw circle, Duke couldn’t answer, and when in possession, made unforced errant passes out of bounds. Attacker Rachel Clark took advantage for Boston College with four goals, and three other Eagles had a hat trick as well. At the halftime break, Boston College led 11-3 and went on cruise control the rest of the game, coasting to the win and their seventh straight appearance in the ACC semifinals.  

Despite being outshot 10-3 in the first quarter, the Blue Devils remained a threat early. Seven minutes into the game, graduate midfielder Olivia Carner stole the ball out of the air in a heads-up defensive play and took it downfield to junior attacker Carly Bernstein. The sophomore found junior midfielder Mattie Shearer on the right wing of the crease, who then dumped it across the eight meter to Debellis on the opposite side. Debellis quick-sticked it past Eagle goalie Shea Dolce to complete the transition goal, closing the gap to 3-2 and answering the two goals that Boston College had just punched in 41 seconds.

It looked like the game would continue this way, both teams neck-and-neck and trading goals. But Boston College dominated on the draw circle: The Eagles sliced and diced Duke’s defense and scored six unanswered goals between the first and second quarters, winning 13 draw controls to the Blue Devils' three during the first half. With just over three minutes left in the second quarter, DeBellis bailed Duke out with a high stick side shot on the doorstep, but Boston College snuck two more in before the end of the half to command an eight-goal lead heading into the locker room. 

At the half, both teams were shooting 50% and had nine turnovers, but Boston College had 22 shots compared to Duke’s six. The Blue Devils barely had the ball in their sticks due to the Eagles’ relentlessness on the draw circle — and without the ball, the Blue Devils couldn’t score. 

Boston College handily put Duke away in the final thirty minutes. Midfielder Andrea Reynolds continued to win possessions for the Eagles, finishing the day with seven personal draw controls; Duke had a collective five total. The lopsided performance translated to shots, with Boston College outshooting Duke 40 to 13 on the day. DeBellis scored again in the third quarter for a hat trick and freshman midfielder Bella Goodwin also got on the scoresheet, but Boston College held Duke scoreless in the final frame whilst tacking on four more goals of its own. 

After the disappointing defeat, the Blue Devils’ playoff hopes remain in limbo. They are on the bubble of making the NCAA tournament, and will have to wait until Selection Sunday May 5 to know whether they can pop it or not.

Duke defensive tackle DeWayne Carter selected 95th overall by Buffalo Bills in NFL draft

'it happens in a split second': duke's jake naso takes a lacrosse niche to its highest level, the israel-hamas war has spurred protests on college campuses across the country. what has happened at duke, get the chronicle straight to your inbox.

Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.

Share and discuss “Slow shooting, inconsistent defense drop Duke women's lacrosse out of ACC tournament against Boston College” on social media.

 facebook  twitter

Early barrage from Campbell puts away No. 6 Duke baseball in seven innings

Pro-palestinian protesters hold rally on abele quad demanding cease-fire, divestment and freedom of speech.