As interest in adventure tourism increases for those with disposable income, travelers find themselves being drawn to winter outdoor sports in regions of the world receiving high annual snowfall, including the United States, Japan, Europe and Canada.

Analysts at Technavio say this led to an increased awareness of avalanche safety precautions. “The global avalanche safety gear market is witnessing promising growth due to an increased awareness about safety among adventurers,” said Abhay Sinha, lead research analyst for outdoor gear, Technavio. “Despite the danger involved, the adventure tourism market has not showed any sign of a slowdown. More consumers are participating in sidecountry and backcountry travel, which has increased the demand for safety equipment.”

The Technavio team recognizes four points that will increase the demand among travelers for avalanche safety precautions — climate change, discretionary income, safety awareness and increased adventure and outdoor sport travel. They say changes in global climate led to poor snow quality in lower altitudes, which leads many adventure travelers to areas not as closely monitored, and this increases the chances of being affected by an avalanche. These same travelers also often have a high disposable income, allowing them to travel further and more often to these questionable areas, especially as interest in travel for outdoor sports rises. The American Avalanche Association is making efforts to educate these travelers, with their Project Zero campaign, aiming to eradicate deaths by avalanche in the United States.