Tourism ministry formulates guidelines for adventure tourism

New Delhi, Oct 19 (UNI) Shifting its focus from the generic to niche areas to convert India into a 365-day destination, the Tourism Ministry will promote adventure tourism in a big way.

Accordingly, the ministry has formulated a set of safety guidelines to address issues of not merely the safety of the clients but also the quality of the adventure experience.

The guidelines, which seek to set basic minimum standards in terms of equipment and human resources, will also address the issues of minimising impacts on the fragile enviornment in which these activities are generally conducted, Tourism Minister Ambika Soni said here today.

Activities that are land-based (mountaineering and trekking), air-based (parasailing, paragliding and bungee jumping) and water-based (river running) are covered by the guidelines.

An accreditation committee is being formed to monitor adventure tourism activities. The committee will comprise of the government and industry representatives and national training institutions which will oversee the safety standards and continuously update guidelines.

Under the guidelines, consumption of alcohol in any form or quantity or illicit drugs at lest six hours prior to the river trip is banned.

Ms Soni said the Ministry would promote India as an emerging MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events) destination, besides laying special emphasis on domestic tourism. MICE touorism would be promoted with public-private partnership.

The ministry today launched new CDs on cruise tourism, adventure sports and MICE tourism. "The CDs are interactive, and informative and will be distributed extensively to international tour operators, as promotional tools." Tea tourism would be promoted in a big way by linking areas where tea was grown.

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