Specialists develop UKopportunities for park life

National parks by Alan Moore

Specialists develop UKopportunities for park life

THE growing appeal of touring the US’s national parks has helped to boost the popularity of self-drive breaks in the US Rockies.

Kate Russell-Cobb, UK director for marketing consortium Rocky Mountain International, said: “Britons are taking more time on their holiday to explore this region, and the average trip is two weeks. However, some clients are now combining a week at a ranch with two weeks on a self-drive.

“The prime draws are Yellowstone and Grand Teton in Wyoming, Glacier National Park in Montana, and the Badlands and Black Hills in South Dakota. Idaho doesn’t have a national park but offers areas of equivalent natural beauty.”

She added that RMI, which represents the states of Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota and Idaho, will be putting more of its resources into UK consumer travel shows and agent training.

“The UK is now a fairly mature market for us,” said Russell-Cobb. “In the 10 years we have had UK representation, we have done a lot of product development which we feel confident about.”

Kuoni has introduced a new 14-night Northwestern Trails self-drive tour that takes in Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton and Jackson Hole in Wyoming, and Glacier National Park in Montana. Prices start at £758 each for four adults travelling together and include flights, car hire and stays. They operate from April to September.

Russell-Cobb added: “More clients are taking a riding or ranch holiday with a flydrive, and even winter adventure breaks that are not necessarily based on skiing.

“There are now 16 tour operators offering winter product.”

Another growing market from the UK in both summer and winter are small, tailor-made tours of up to 12 people whose itineraries are based on adventure and special interests. These include the region’s Native American culture, the history of the Old West, and nature and wildlife.

Aside from various forms of skiing, winter sports in the Rockies include snowmobiling, dog sledding and ice fishing. For example, Ranch America offers ranch-based stays with a full six-day programme of winter sports activities.

The RMI states are also working closely with several US gateway airports on marketing and promotion of the region including Denver, Minneapolis/St Paul and Salt Lake City.

Bighorn ram:some of the wildlife found at Yellowstone Park

Old West: tours are increasingly focusing on heritage and culture