Indian Adventure Tourism Guidelines

About the Guidelines
Adventurous activities covered
The Ministry of Tourism has released the Guidelines by the Government of India on Adventure Tourism. These guidelines on Safety and Quality Norms for Adventure Tourism in India have been formulated along with the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) in an effort to make adventure sports safer.

About the Guidelines
The aim of this initiative is to help adventure tour operators understand and execute safety guidelines in a better manner. These guidelines cover land, air and water based activities which include mountaineering, trekking, bungee jumping, paragliding, kayaking, scuba diving, snorkeling, river rafting and many other sports. The guidelines have been framed for 15 Land Based, 7 Air Based and 7 Water Based activities which cover the entire gamut of Adventure Tourism available in India. The guidelines codify the Standard Operating Procedures and instructions for Risk Mitigation and Emergencies as well as provide for details like Safety precautions, training required, insurance, etc.

The information given covers some major areas such as the role of a guide, important equipment required, inspections and maintenance process, operating instructions, risk mitigation, medical safety etc. Detailed guidelines covered in the document focus on safety from every possible angle. It educates tour operators and other concerned agencies about important safety requirements and lesser-known dangers. In order to put 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.

Adventurous activities covered
Land based Adventure Tourism (15) comprises, All Terrain Vehicle Tours (ATV), Bungee Jumping, Cycling Tours, Camel Safaris, Horse Safaris, Jeep Safaris, Motorcycle Tours, Mountaineering, Nature Walks / Bird Watching, Rock Climbing / Artificial Wall Climbing & Abselling, Personal Light Electric Vehicle Tours, Skiing / Snow Boarding, Trekking, Wildlife Safaris, Zip Wires and High Ropes Courses.

Air Based Adventure Tourism (7) comprises, Hot Air Ballooning, Paragliding / Hand Gliding, Para Motoring, Parasailing, Ski Diving, Air Safaris, Kite Boarding.

Water Based Adventure Tourism (7) comprises, Kayaking / Sea Kayaking, Rafting, River Cruisinig, Scuba Diving, Snorkelling, Water Sports Centres, Essentials.