ISO 21101:2014 Adventure Tourism — Safety Management

ISO 21101:2014 is a standard that focuses on safety management systems for adventure tourism activities. Published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), it provides guidelines and requirements for organizations involved in adventure tourism to establish, implement, maintain, and continually improve their safety management systems.

The standard outlines various aspects related to safety management in adventure tourism, including risk assessment and management, staff training, equipment maintenance, emergency preparedness, and customer safety. By adhering to ISO 21101:2014, organizations can enhance the safety of their adventure tourism activities and provide assurance to their customers regarding safety standards.

Key components of ISO 21101:2014 may include:

1. Scope and Definitions: This section defines the scope of the standard and key terms used throughout the document to ensure clarity and consistency.
2. Management Responsibility: It outlines the responsibilities of management in establishing and maintaining an effective safety management system, including commitment to safety, provision of resources, and establishing safety objectives.
3. Risk Management: This section emphasizes the importance of identifying and assessing risks associated with adventure tourism activities and implementing measures to mitigate these risks.
4. Operational Planning and Control: It addresses the planning and control of adventure tourism operations to ensure safety, including procedures for equipment maintenance, staff training, and emergency response.
5. Communication and Documentation: This section highlights the importance of clear communication regarding safety procedures and requirements, both internally among staff and externally with customers.
6. Emergency Preparedness and Response: It covers the development of emergency response plans and procedures to effectively manage emergencies that may arise during adventure tourism activities.
7. Monitoring and Continuous Improvement: This part emphasizes the need for ongoing monitoring of safety performance and continual improvement of the safety management system.

ISO 21101:2014 is designed to be applicable to a wide range of adventure tourism activities, including but not limited to hiking, mountaineering, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, zip-lining, and safari tours. By conforming to this standard, organizations can demonstrate their commitment to ensuring the safety of participants in these activities.

The introduction to ISO 21101 claims adventure tourism is a global industry of growing importance, and that adventure tourism involves an inherent element of risk. There must be a balance between risk and reward; adventure and danger. ISO 21101  and it’s sister standards 21102 (“Adventure tourism – Leaders – Personnel competence”) and 21103 ( “Adventure tourism – Information for participants”) provide a basis for adventure tourism activities providers to plan, communicate about, and deliver adventure tourism activities as safely as practicable.