Pent Up Demand Post Coronavirus = Outstanding Tour Opportunity

Travel industry experts are forecasting that about 2-3 months after recovery from the Coronavirus pandemic consumer confidence will rebound and there will be significant pent up demand for travel in late 2020 and early 2021.

Travel professionals should take advantage of the current down time to promote and market tours that are keyed to this pent up demand for travel.

A tour of the national parks in the USA would be a great offering that appeals to demographic markets across the board.

A sample of an outstanding multi-venue National Parks tour follows -

                                                                                             
                                                                                              SOUTHWESTERN NATIONAL PARKS TOUR

First Day

Early afternoon arrival at Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport where the group will be met at the airline baggage claim by the U.S. Group Planners tour director.

Soaring from the desert like the mythical bird for which it was named, Phoenix is the sophisticated hub of the thriving Southwest, a medley of Spanish and Indian cultures and the American West.

Upon arrival the group will board a deluxe motorcoach for a sightseeing tour of the Phoenix area.A stop will be made at South Mountain Park, the largest municipal park in the world with more than 17,000 acres of carefully-preserved desert. There are pre-historic petroglyphs in the park, but the panoramic views of the Phoenix area from Dobbins Lookout, some 1200 feet above the city, are the main draw here.  

Then it is off to Scottsdale, known for its high quality lifestyle where the ambiance reflects a unique blend of traditional western and modern living.

The tour will conclude in the late afternoon at the Hilton Garden Inn in Scottsdale, a contemporary-style hotel located at Old Town, with the rest of the afternoon at leisure to relax from the long flight(s).

Second Day

Following checkout of the Hilton Garden Inn the group will take the drive north to Sedona. During the course of the scenic journey, the beautiful terrain will change from desert to mountain.

Enroute the group will visit Montezuma's Castle, a five-story, 20-room dwelling built one hundred feet above ground by a group of Indian farmers in the 12th Century.It is possibly the most perfectly preserved of the ancient Indian cliff dwellings.

It is surrounded by the towering red sandstone cliffs of Oak Creek Canyon and has been frequently used as the outdoor setting for Hollywood westerns. The deep red buttes provide a beautiful backdrop for boutiques and art galleries which feature unique momentos and handmade arts and crafts.

Following check-in at the Poco Diablo Resort the rest of the day is at leisure.Members of the group may want to take a jeep tour, dine at the Javerina Café, a poplular Mexican restaurant with great views, or head to Tlaquepaque, simply an architectural masterpiece. Patterned after a Mexican shopping arcade, this arts and crafts village offers over 40 specialty shops, galleries, and fine restaurants.

Third Day

Continuing north through Flagstaff the drive will take the group through rolling hills covered with bunch grass, junipers, and desert shrubs.

Upon arrival in Williams, Arizona, "the gateway to the Grand Canyon," tour members will board the Grand Canyon Railroad. In recreating the "good old days" of rail travel, the train is headed by vintage steam locomotives pulling refurbished Harriman coaches. The train crew, engineers, brakemen, and hostesses are attractively attired in period uniforms. Enroute to the Grand Canyon, tour members will enjoy live entertainment and refreshments onboard the train as well as beautifful views of scenic rolling hills and mountain landscapes.

Early afternoon arrival at the Grand Canyon, the seventh natural wonder of the world which stands unchallenged as nature's most remarkable work of art. The canyon occupies over 2,000 square miles of massive canyon walls, awesome gorges, and incredible rock formations.Chiseled by erosion over millions of years ago, its layered walls tower one mile above the mighty Colorado River.

Upon arrival the group will take the Hermit's Rest tour. Stops are made at numerous scenic viewpoints, each offering its own spectacular panorama.From Trail View, tour members will see a breathtaking view of the Bright Angel camp, one of the most popular hiking trails in the canyon.From Pima Point, the group will see and hear the thundering rapids of the awesome Colorado River below.The highlight of the tour will be a stop at Hermit's Rest.Here the group will see a unique house of canyon boulders which now houses a gift shop.

Late afternoon pre-registered check-in at one of the National Park Lodges located at the South rim of the canyon. After time to relax for awhile, individuals may want to browse in the gift shops, examine Indian handicrafts, watch thefilm, "Over the Edge," a sensational multi-media overview, or enjoy a Park Ranger nature walk. In season, rangers give daily lectures at the museum at the Visitors Center.Films are shown here explaining the geology, life zones, and habitation of the Canyon.

Tonight individuals may want to enjoy an elegant dinner at El Tovar, a park ranger slide show, or perhaps take a starlight stroll.

Fourth Day

Early this morning some individuals may want to watch the sun rise over the Grand Canyon.

Today the group will take the drive east through the desert to Monument Valley, on of the most photographed landscapes in the world. Many of Hollywood's western movies were filmed here. Located on the border of southeastern Utah and northern Arizona, Monument Valley contains some of the most dramatic rock formations on the Colorado Plateau. These large blocks of sandstone have been compacted through erosion due to exfoliation, wind, and water.

Upon arrival at the Navajo Indian Reservation the group will split-up and take rugged 4x4 vehicles on a sensational driving tour through Monument Valley. Each vehicle is driven by a Native American Indian who also serves as a guide.

Following an early barbecue dinner the group will then head to Kayenta where the night will be spent at the Hampton Inn.

Fifth Day

Today the group will drive to the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and its centerpiece Lake Powell. Page/Lake Powell is located in an area of unsurpassed natural beauty and surreal diversity. Deep, colorful canyons, towering cliffs, spectacular red rock formations - and a lake along whose 1900 mile shoreline can be found natural and man-made wonders of awesome grandeur. The second largest man-made lake on earth features a jagged-edged shoreline which is longer that the entire coastline of California. Coupled with recreational activities that include swimming, boating, fishing, skiing, and white water rafting, this area is an absolute jewel.

Upon arrival a stop will be made at Antelope Canyon, a photographer's dream location with its magnificent slot canyons.

The group will then check-in at the Holiday Inn Express in Page. Individuals can spend the afternoon relaxing or continue with the tour director to Horseshoe Bend, which feature beautiful views of the Colorado River.

This evening the group will take a dinner cruise along Lake Powell which offers a close-up view of the fjords and inlets, the sandy beaches lapped by deep blue water, and the serpentine side canyons. The comprehensive, 2.5 hour cruise will feature spectacular buttes, towers, arches, coves, grottos, plunging reflections, mysterious side canyons, and wildlife. The group will motor to Glen Canyon Dam, gliding between the walls of Antelope Canyon, entire Navajo Canyon then return by way way of Warm Creek and Castle Rock strait.

This morning the journey continues west along Route 89. This area is the best example of "Painted Desert" and Chinle formation anywhere. A stop will be made at Kanab, Utah, an early Mormon settlement.

In the late morning the group will arrive at Bryce Canyon National Park, one of the world's geologic masterpieces which was formed by millions of years of volcanoes, uplifts, and faults in the earth's crust.The canyon is brightly colored with sandstone pinnacles, spires, and canyon walls eroded from an ancient lakebed. The Park is located in a ponderosa, spruce, fir, and aspen forest typical of the 8,000 foot altitude.Emerging from the forest at the edge of the Pink Cliffs, tour members will face an expanse of delicate, intricately eroded, multi-colored minarets, spires, and pinnacles that form the striking badland topography below.

Upon arrival the group will take a guided tour of Bryce Canyon. There are a number of outstanding overlooks to view and photograph the diverse colors,rock formations, and panoramas - Fairyland View, Sunset Point, Yovimpa Point, Bryce Point, and Paria View.

Following a stop at the Visitor's Center the group will take the short drive outside of the park to Ruby's Inn where the group will first check-in and then enjoy a fun-filled western dinner show.

Seventh Day

Following checkout of Ruby's the group will take the 2 hour drive to Zion National Park. The approach on Route 9 meanders through immense sandstone formations that orginated millions of years ago as gigantic wind-deposited sand dunes that were later covered over and compressed into stone. The 6-mile drive into the heart of verdant Zion Canyon is accessible from the east where the highway passes though a spectacular landscape and a mile-long tunnel.

Within the park are desert terrain and overwhelmingly massive sculpted rock formations, waterfalls, and the Virgin River which carved the towering cliffs of the canyon. Possibly the greatest six-mile highway of concentrated breathtaking scenery anywhere winds beside the Virgin River with spectacular domes, arches, spires, and steeples towering overhead. Immense sandstone formations thrusting hundreds of feet upward are viewed from different perspectives at every turn. Nature's colorful magaliths, with names like "Court of the Patriarchs," "The Sentinel," and "Angels Landing," tower over the highway on the canyon floor.

In the midafternoon the group will take the leisurely drive southwest along Route 15 to Las Vegas, "the entertainment capital of the world," the ultimate spot for 24 hour-a-day entertainment and excitement.

Late afternoon check-in at Paris Las Vegas, a spectacular hotel designed to bring the spirit, excitement, and savoir faire of the city of Paris to Las Vegas. Situated in the heart of the famed strip, the hotel soars 34 stories and features authentic replicas of French landmarks including a 50-story replica of the Eiffel Tower.

The remainder of the day is free for individual activities. Many members of the group will want to try their luck and skill playing the progressive slot machines, black jack, roulette, keno, baccarat, and poker at one of the colorful casinos. The lavish buffet dinners will interest many members of the group, as will the lounge shows, revues, and the cocktail shows.

Eighth Day

The morning and afternoon unstructured so that individuals can enjoy the area at their own pace. Local attractions include the Imperial Palace Auto Collection, the Hermitage Museum, Madame Tussaud's, the Stratosphere Tower, and the new High Roller Ferris Wheel. Many individuals will want to stroll along the famed strip and explore some of the other casinos such as The Venetian, Caesars Palace, and Bellagio. Others may want to take an optional flightseeing tour or float trip down the Colorado River. The shoppers will want to head to The Forum where upscale stores and restaurants are set in an "outdoor" Roman marketplace. The sun worshippers will want to just relax poolside at the hotel and the golfers will want to play a challenging round of golf at one of the nearby championship courses.  

This evening the group will watch O, a sensational show by the Canadian Cirque du Soleil performance company. In a showroom at the Bellagio designed to resemble the Paris Opera House, this water-themed production is centered around a 1.5 million gallon pool and includes diving feats, synchronized swimming, contortionist acts, and aerial acrobatics. All in all it will be a simply wonderful evening.

Ninth Day

Following checkout of Paris Las Vegas the group will transfer to MacCarran International Airport for the return flight home, with fond remembrances of the TOUR TO ARIZONA, UTAH, AND NEVADA.