Lok Sabha Question No. 117 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-09-14
Subject: Promotion of Adventure Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: Bheemrao Baswanthrao Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.117 ANSWERED ON 14.09.2020

## PROMOTION OF ADVENTURE TOURISM

## 117. SHRI B.B.PATIL:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  promote adventure tourism sites in the country;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  received  any  proposal  in  this regard  from  the  State  Government  of  Telangana  for  financial grants; and
- (d)
- if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SHRI PRAHLAD SINGH PATEL)

(a) & (b): Yes, Sir.   The  Ministry  of  Tourism  (MoT)  has  recognized 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 was set up in 2016 to act as a forum for development and promotion of Adventure Tourism in the country.

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 under the Swadesh Darshan scheme for Integrated Development of Tourism circuits.

The  MoT  under  its  voluntary  scheme  grants  approval  to bonafide Adventure Tour Operators as per Guidelines laid down in this respect. Further, 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.

In  order  to  minimize  the  risk  associated  with  adventure activities and for the safety of the tourists, 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 covers 31 verticals involving 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 Ministry of Tourism had launched a campaign '777 days of Incredible Indian Himalayas' on 27 th  September 2013 to promote the tourism potential of the Indian Himalayas.

The Adventure Tour Operators Association of India has appreciated this initiative of the Ministry of Tourism. The Ministry of Tourism also extends financial support for capacity building/training programmes in the adventure tourism sector.

(c) & (d): The Govt. of India, Ministry of Tourism has not received any  proposal in  this  regard  from  the  State  Govt.  of  Telangana  for financial grants.

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