Adventure Tour Operators Association of India 13th Annual Convention held at Kumarakom

Making India the Adventure Capital of the World

* India is the only country in the world that offers every possible adventure activity.

*ATOAI (Adventure Tour Operators Association of India) has taken upon itself to develop and market India as the adventure capital of the world.

* Emerging Pathways is thus the theme of the 13th Annual Convention of ATOAI taking place in Kumarakom, Kerala from September 18 – 21, 2017.

* Inauguration by Mr. Kadagampally Surendran, Honourable Minister of Tourism, Govt of Kerala

* Agenda to thus cover issues related to meeting these goals. It will encompass policy, capacity creation, Responsible Tourism and marketing.

KUMARAKOM, KERALA – SEPTEMBER 19, 2017

Over 300 delegates from all over India had come together in Kumarakom, Kerala for the 13th Annual Convention of the ATOAI (Adventure Tour Operators Association of India) being held from September 18 – 21, 2017.

The inauguration of the event took place on September 19th. The event was inaugurated by Mr. Kadagampally Surendran, Honourable Minister of Tourism, Govt of Kerala along with Mr. Satyajeet Rajan, Director General Tourism, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and Dr. V. Venu, IAS, Principal Secretary Tourism, Government of Kerala.

The theme for this year’s edition is EMERGING PATHWAYS. The global tourism industry is undergoing significant changes, with travellers increasingly preferring adventure and active holidays. The niche has not only become mainstream but is now leading it.

The new traveller is driven by a desire for physical and mental transformations, feeling healthier and more alive in the process. He or she seeks to achieve this through discovery, learnings, unique experiences, meaningful stories, fun, thrills, new friendships and an expanded worldview. These are all inherent in adventure travel. Trends such as these will have implications on how travel business is conducted in the coming years.

INDIA IN A UNIQUE POSITION TO BE A LEADER IN ADVENTURE TOURISM

According to Capt. Swadesh Kumar, President, ATOAI, “Every country has some adventure to offer, but India is a country that offers almost every adventure and active holiday experience that one can seek. Even as the definition of adventure has expanded, India has upped its game to offer
all this. From mostly a mountain and wildlife destination, the country now offers much more:
Skiing, water rafting, treks, road trips, off-road adventure,biking, cycling, scuba diving, river cruising, angling, bungee jumping, ballooning, caving, birding, adventure parks, nature retreats, culture, food, mountaineering and more. At any given time of the year, one can do most of these at some location in the country.” “To achieve our desired objectives, ATOAI has proposed to the Ministry of Tourism that the year 2018 be declared a Year of Adventure in India,” he added.

Adding to this, Mr. Rajesh Ojha, Convention Chairman, said, “Since 1994, ATOAI has been at the forefront of influencing policy, helping members create capacity, training, establishing safety standards, ensuring sustainable practices and marketing. The year 2017 marks a watershed when the association has taken upon itself to raise the bar.”

A NEW START IN KERALA

The annual convention is supported and hosted by Kerala Tourism but ATOAI is inviting all stakeholders to contribute in its resolve to make
India the adventure capital of the world. These include Government, tourism boards, industry, experts and media.

The agenda will include sessions on how to achieve these goals, networking amongst delegates, exhibits by state tourism boards and industry players, and FAM trips and a day of adventure to showcase Kerala as a unique tourist destination.

ATOAI has ensured that its annual convention and events travel to different parts of the country to connect all stakeholders in the adventure tourism and to draw attention to host destinations.

KEY CONTACTS

Capt. Swadesh Kumar, President – ATOAI:
+91 9810024642 / swadesh@shikhar.com

Mr. Rajesh Ojha, Secretary – ATOAI:
+91 9810040397 / rajesh.ojha@gmail.com

Mr. Ajay Jain, Chairman – Media and
Sponsorship Committee – ATOAI:
+91 9910044476 / ajay@ajayjain.com

ABOUT ATOAI

The Adventure Tour Operators Association of India was founded in 1994 with handful of members. Now it is a national body comprising hundreds of
members from across the country and abroad, actively promoting adventure and eco-tourism in India. The association was founded with an aim to create awareness about the immense potential for adventure tourism in India and to harness this potential in a safe, sensitive and environment friendly manner.

ATOAI members are recognised by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.

They are committed to

Mission Statement

“To facilitate the delivery of responsible and sustainable adventure travel experiences; fostering growth and partnerships amongst members.”

Our Vision Statement

– To help India become the best and the largest adventure travel destination in the world.

– To be inclusive and grow membership to 1000 responsible members by 2020.

– To help India become a 12-month tourism destination through adventure travel.

– To help members operate in all 7 continents by 2020.

Our Core Values