Discovery Tours by Gate 1 Sees Emerging Small Group Travel Trend

Small group travel allows for meaningful cultural encounters

FORT WASHINGTON, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Travel trends come and go, but according to Discovery Tours by Gate 1 Travel, a newly launched travel company specializing in intimate, international travel experiences, there’s one travel trend that’s here to stay – small groups.

“Time is precious in today’s society and when Americans take time away from home or from their jobs, they want unique cultural experiences that leave a lasting impression long after their trip ends”

“Time is precious in today’s society and when Americans take time away from home or from their jobs, they want unique cultural experiences that leave a lasting impression long after their trip ends,” said Marty Seslow, Vice President of Marketing and Sales for Discovery Tours. “Vacationers increasingly want to connect with local people and do more than scratch the surface of their destination.”

Discovery Tours has noticed an increased demand from travelers to explore the more remote corners of familiar destinations. To meet this need, today’s tour operators are approaching travel on a small scale by offering unique excursions – such as visits to local villages, meals in a local’s home, cooking classes and active outdoor explorations such as hiking.

One obstacle tour operators face is that most large motor coaches cannot reach those remote corners. Those that can tend to disrupt daily life when 40 people suddenly arrive and overtake a village. “By traveling in a small group, guests can have unobtrusive access to these remote destinations and have more authentic encounters once they arrive. Small groups can quietly slip into tiny villages, allowing a true snapshot of uninterrupted life to emerge,” said Seslow.

Gate 1 Travel was founded in 1981 to deliver More of the World for Less — offering fully escorted land tours; sea cruises; independent rail packages; river cruises; independent fly and drive vacations; and customized international vacation packages throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and North and South America. In 2012, Gate 1 Travel launched Discovery tours, a company focusing on small group travel. The company currently has packages to Africa, Morocco, China, Southeast Asia, Nepal, Turkey, Peru, Italy and Ireland. For information about Gate 1 Travel and to make reservations call: 1-800-682-3333 or 215-572-7676; fax: [phone]; e-mail: [e-mail]; or visit the Website: http://www.Gate1travel.com. For more information and to receive a Discovery Tours by Gate 1 brochure, visit the company’s website, www.discovery-tours.com, or call 877-900-9777.