The Minister of State for Tourism (independent charge), K.J. Alphons launched India’s first ever guidelines by the Government on Adventure Tourism on May 31, 2018. The guidelines are formulated by the Ministry of Tourism, along with the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI).
The guidelines will ensure standardisation of the safety and quality norms for adventure tourism in India and cover 15 land-based, seven air-based and seven water-based activities such as mountaineering, trekking, bungee jumping, paragliding, kayaking, scuba diving, snorkeling, river rafting, etc.
As 70 per cent of Himalayas are in India which also has 8,000 km of coastline, tropical forests, deserts and beaches, there is scope for increasing adventure tourism.
The aim of this initiative is to help adventure tour operators understand and execute safety guidelines in a better manner. The guidelines codify the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and instructions for risk mitigation and emergencies as well as provide set rules for safety precautions, training required, insurance, medical safety and other requirements to participate in such activities. In addition, SOPs for rescues, age limit for every sport, training, equipments, flying permissions, use of sign board, trained manpower, risk management strategy, inspections and maintenance are also issued. The guidelines also cover insurance liabilities, death and disabilities and enumerate the basic minimum standards for grant of recognition to operators which includes mandatory registration with the local tourism department, minimum qualification for staff, regular training for staff, and a ‘leave no trace’ policy to conform to high sustainability standards.