KOCHI: In order to boost adventure travel in India, Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) has made a proposal before Ministry of Tourism, Govt of India, to declare 2018 as the Year of Adventure Tourism in India.
The Association is hopeful that their proposal will be accepted and expecting a positive announcement from the department soon, reports Travel Biz Monitor.
“We are hopeful of an announcement on the World Tourism Day celebrations from the govt,” said Capt Sudesh Kumar, President, ATOAI, in an informal conversation with Travelbiz Monitor. He said that the Association spearhead various activities across the country to promote adventure travel if the govt accepts the proposal. “The goal is to double the adventure travel in the country in the next two to three years.”
Meanwhile around 300 delegates have descended in the backwater resort of Kumarakom in kerala for the ATOAI annual conference. Kadakampilly Surendran, Tourism Minister, Govt of Kerala, will inaugurate the convention today.
Talking about the association, Capt Kumar said the endeavour is to broad base the membership of the association so that the adventure tour operators who are in the unorganised sector are brought into the organised industry. “This will help maintain certain minimum standards and also ensure safety and security of people. There are around 15,000 operators in the unorganised sector,” he said.
Hope Government of India take congniziance of this and declare 2018 as the Year of Adventure Tourism.