Lok Sabha Question No. 1209 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-07
Subject: Promotion of Adventure Tourism
Ministry: TOURISM
Asked by: ADVOCATE NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR, K. KAMARAAJ

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TOURISM

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1209 ANSWERED ON 07.12.2015

## PROMOTION OF ADVENTURE TOURISM

## 1209. ADV. NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR:

## DR. K. KAMARAJ:

Will the Minister of TOURISM be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to promote the adventurous tourism in the country to increase the employment opportunities and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  a  number  of  unlicensed  sports  operators  in  some popular tourist destinations are luring tourists into dangerous sports  like  para  sailing,  para  gliding,  sea  diving,  river  rafting etc.;
- (c) if so, the reaction of the Government in this regard along with the action taken by the Government against such operators;
- (d) whether the Government proposes to regularize the adventurous tourism in the country; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the steps taken/to be taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) to (e): Adventure Tourism is  one  of  the  emerging  segments  of travel  in  India.  The  Ministry  of  Tourism  extends  Central  Financial Assistance  to  State  Governments/Union  Territory  Administrations for the development of tourism projects including Adventure Tourism,  on  the  basis  of  proposals  received  from  them  subject  to adherence  of  relevant  scheme  guidelines  and  availability  of  funds utilization of funds release earlier.

The  National  Tourism  Policy,  2002  and  the  Report  of  the Working Group on Tourism for the 12 th  Five Year Plan lay thrust on development and promotion of Adventure Tourism. The steps taken by the Ministry of Tourism to promote Adventure Tourism, inter alia, include  issuance  of  guidelines  for  Approval  of  Adventure  Tour Operators,  formulation  of  basic  minimum  standards  for  Adventure Tourism activities, etc. The Ministry of Tourism has been promoting Adventure Tourism through its domestic and international campaigns. 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 campaign, inter alia, aimed  at  promoting  Indian  Himalayas  as  an  incredible  tourism product and to make it as round the year destination. This campaign was conceived after holding a detailed discussion with the representatives  of  the  Adventure  Tour  Operators  Association  of India  (ATOAI).  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. In  addition, the Ministry of Tourism in its guidelines for Basic Minimum  Standards  for  Adventure  Tourism  related  activities  has identified  the  following  categories  of  adventure  tourism  viz.  land, water and air based  activities which  include mountaineering, trekking, river  running,  hang  gliding,  para  gliding  and  bungee jumping. untoward State

Safety-precautionary measures to prevent any incidents are under the purview of concerned Governments/Union Territory Administrations.

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