Lok Sabha Question No. 3115 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-06
Subject: Promotion of Adventure Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: DUSHYANT SINGH, KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3115

## LOK SABHA ANSWERED ON 06.08.2018

## PROMOTION OF ADVENTURE TOURISM

## 3115. SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH:

## SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  planning  to  promote  adventure tourism exclusively across identified spots in the country and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  any  plan  to  ensure  health  and safety  alongside  all  adventure  tourism  activities  in  view  of increasing number of reported accidents and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the  number  of  tourists  visited  country  for  adventure  tourism during the last three years, year-wise;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to set up Adventure Tourism Board and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government  proposes  to develop Adventure Tourism  in  the  Himalayan  region  and  ravines  and  forests  of Bundelkhand and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI K.J. ALPHONS)

(a) to (e): The Ministry of Tourism has recognised 'Adventure Tourism'  as  a  'Niche  Tourism'  product  to  promote  India  as  a  365 days' destination and attract tourists with specific interest. A Task Force on Adventure Tourism has been set up in October 2016 to act as a forum for resolving issues related to  development  and promotion  of  Adventure  Tourism  in  the  country.  It  has  also  been decided  to  promote  2018  as  the  'Year  of  Indian  Adventure'.  Apart from  the  above,  Adventure  Tourism  is  regularly  highlighted  for promotion  as  part  of  the  Incredible  India  Campaign  in  the  print, electronic, online and outdoor media in India and abroad as well as at the various travel trade exhibitions overseas. Development and promotion of tourism is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments/UTs Administration. However, Ministry of Tourism provides Central Financial Assistance to State Governments/UT Administrations for development of tourism infrastructure which also include Adventure Tourism destinations  in  the  country  including  Himalayan  and  Bundelkhand regions under the Swadesh Darshan scheme for Integrated Development of Tourism circuits. The  Ministry of Tourism  along with the Adventure  Tour Operators  Association  of  India  (ATOAI)  has  launched  the  'Indian Adventure Tourism Guidelines (Version 2.0) - 2018' on 'Safety and Quality  Norms  for  Adventure  Tourism  in  India'.  The  guidelines  list the basic minimum standards for adventure tourism and cover the land, air and water-based activities.  All the State Governments/UT Administrations  have  been  advised  to  adopt  and  implement  these Guidelines  in  order  to  minimize  the  risk  associated  with  such activities  and  provide  a  system  of  search  and  rescue  for  tourism activities. The figures regarding Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTA) in India for adventure  tourism  purpose  is  not  available  in  the  Ministry  of Tourism. However, the total Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) to India

during 2015, 2016 and 2017 are as under:

(In Millions)

|   Sr. No. |   Year |   Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) |
|-----------|--------|-----------------------------------|
|         1 |   2015 |                              8.03 |
|         2 |   2016 |                              8.8  |
|         3 |   2017 |                             10.04 |

Presently, there is  no proposal in the Ministry of Tourism for setting up of Adventure Tourism Board.

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