Patea Tus Montes Considers Closure After 30 Years
After 30 years, adventure tourism company Patea Tus Montes is re-evaluating its future and considering closure due to market saturation and changing industry dynamics, its founder confirmed.
After 30 years, the adventure tourism company Patea Tus Montes is taking time to re-evaluate its future and make significant decisions, including the possibility of closing down. This was confirmed by its founder and manager, José María Pérez Baso.
Patea Tus Montes began as a small local project in La Orotava in 1996. It quickly grew to become a leader in the field, known for introducing a new style of tourism in the Canary Islands by offering unique hiking and adventure experiences.
The company has navigated three decades in the leisure sector, facing numerous internal and external challenges that ultimately helped it grow stronger. José María explained, "The last 20 years have been tough. We've had to constantly keep up with social media and live streaming, where people share their excursions in real-time. It's been a continuous race to stay current and market leisure activities effectively."
He also noted that while natural areas have become more crowded, which initially created more opportunities in the leisure sector, things have changed. José María believes Patea Tus Montes has "completed a cycle." He described starting with enthusiasm, moving into training, and then experiencing good financial times. However, the industry is now "saturated" with new businesses, and the internet has made it easier for people to find leisure activities quickly and even do them themselves, without needing to hire companies like theirs.
While José María doesn't want to make hasty decisions, he admits he "sees the writing on the wall." Given the current outlook, he feels it's "better to leave before Patea Tus Montes goes under."
When they first started, most companies offering similar services were German and operated quietly, often from hotel receptions. "But we came in with our youth and enthusiasm," he recalled. "We began entering and winning competitions, which got people talking about us. Our company name also helped us connect with the public, as it clearly communicated what we did."