Government Issued Revised Security Guidelines for Adventure Tourism
The government issued revised security and quality guidelines for "adventure tourism" in India on Thursday.
The guidelines, which have been formulated in consultation with the ATOAI (Adventure Tour Operators Association), provide the basic minimum standards for land, sea and air activities: mountaineering, trekking, bungee jumping, paragliding, kayaking, scuba diving, snorkeling, and rafting.
“In order to have a strong foothold in the field of adventure sports, better safety measures are mandatory. It is imperative that all adventure tourism stakeholders provide for better vigilance and strict adherence to these guidelines,” Tourism Minister K. J. Alphons said.
As per the guidelines for mandatory insurance coverage for adventure tour operators, adventure professionals, customers, resorts, and hotels: "In India, there is an urgent need for special insurance products that cover all those involved in the adventure sports ecosystem.”
It covers issues such as the role of a guide, equipment required, inspections, maintenance processes, operating instructions, and risk mitigation and medical safety, among other aspects.
Tourism Secretary Rashmi Verma said, “World over, people are looking for experiential tourism and are not satisfied with just looking at monuments.”
Ms. Verma said that States needed to adopt the guidelines and create awareness among operators to do so, too.
Source: The Hindu
