From the President's desk
Dear Members,
Warm Greetings from your team at ATOAI. We have had interesting last four weeks since our last newsletter. Your Team, has dug deep into ATOAI functioning and various fronts are being addressed. These are still tough days for all of us, though domestic travel has picked up a bit and there is a new light on the horizon, but our colleagues who handle Inbound still need to hold on for a couple of more months till the trickle of tourists start to begin. The good thing is that we have started our vaccinations here and for now it is moving at a good well planned manner.
These are still early days for this team but steady progress is being made. I have just returned from Ladakh where your President was invited by the Government of Union Territory of Ladakh for the 2nd Ladakh Winter Conclave held at Leh from 20th to 24th February. It was a great Conclave with people from a vast spectrum in Hospitality were present. Adventure Tourism was widely discussed and ideas exchanged. Ladakh is on the verge of redefining new paths for tourism going forward and it was really heartwarming to see the winds of change being inspired by the young generation of local Entrepreneurs present there. Winter Tourism to Ladakh was widely discussed and new Outdoor Active options such as Bouldering, Rock Climbing, Ice Climbing, Skiing, Paragliding & winter Festivals.
There was a wide range of discussions on requesting the Indian Government to open up climbing peaks, Border areas for Tourism and Tour Operators to get access to Satellite Phones. For the First time GOC from the Army participated in the Conclave and a well laid out open discussion happened with him how we could all work together with the support from the Army.
I also had a One to One meeting with the current office bearers of ALTOA (All Ladakh Tour Operators Association) for over two hours which was very cordial and I addressed most of the concerns of the ATOAI members who operate in Ladakh to them. I will be doing a detailed report on this and the same will be shared with you all very shortly.
I also met with Shri Rigzin Sampael Commissioner Secretary Government of Union Territory of Ladakh on the sidelines of the Ladakh Winter Conclave and he showed great interest in ATOAI hosting a members meet in Ladakh in the coming months, we will be working on this and come back to you.
Your team has also closed the vendor for the total revamping of the ATOAI website and the work has already began and we will be sharing more details with you all shortly.
ATOAI Committee Formations have been completed and some of you have come forward to volunteer work in various committees which is truly appreciated. We need more active participation in our committees as we move ahead and surely more hands are needed to achieve the goals we have set out for, so please come forward and participate actively and be part of the ATOAI journey and we surely believe the future leadership of ATOAI is right here with in its current members.
ATOAI members meet will be resuming soon & we are working on a physical members meeting either in Delhi or around Delhi as it has been a rather long time that we all got together physically.
Your ATOAI team is doing its best to add more value to the membership as we go forward and I am sure we will together succeed. Once again please come forward with any thoughts, suggestions, ideas that can help everyone. We have always valued your contribution in bringing ATOAI to where it is today.
Wishing everyone a lovely spring and even happier times ahead.
Vishwas Makhija,
President, ATOAI
Meeting with the Previous Secretary Tourism and Director General Tourism
The office bearers met the Previous Secretary Tourism Mr. Yogendra Tripathi and Director General Tourism Ms. Meenakshi Sharma on 22nd January 2021 for an open house discussion.
There was strong emphasis on the additional publicity required for Adventure Travel in the #dekhoapnadesh campaign across Incredible India social media handles. A communication has already been rolled out to our members and would need your active participation.
ATOAI has also requested the Secretary and DG to reach out to all the states and Union Territories to adopt the ATOAI safety guidelines.
The Secretary acknowledged that it is very important for ATOAI to grow its member base. A proud moment for ATOAI and it’s members for all their dedication and support.
Meeting with Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF)
The ATOAI Office Bearers team met the IMF team on 27th January 2021.
Brig. Ashok Abbey – President, Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF)
Col. S.P. Malik – Secretary
Lt Col J. S Dhankhar (Retd) – Director
The session highlights are as below:
1. Open peaks of Indian Himalaya
Talk to NHA to reverse the X visa policy.
Focus on increasing foot fall of foreign expeditions. Promotion of Indian Himalayan should be the main priority.
IMF is reaching out to Union of International Associations (UIA) and international organization to tell them that the Indian Himalaya is open and is completely safe for climbing. There are some peaks which are already opened in Indian Himalayas and we have pushed for around 450 more peaks to be open.
The clearing procedure for opening up any peak is a bit time taking, It needs interaction with the ministry of home affairs and also need to take permission from the ministry of defense. Whenever something goes to the ministry of defense, as per the protocol it goes to the Indian army headquarters. If they don’t clear, it will not get cleared, and until ministry of defense gives you the clearance NHA will not approve it.
2. Promotion of Indian Himalayas.
New routes, new mountains and new areas should be promoted for the better reach and increasing the interest of visitors. The focus should be Indian Himalayas with the first winter trek already been organized from 10th Jan. 2021 to 24th Jan. 2021 in Arunachal Pradesh.
Strategic decision-making on how to promote the Indian Adventure Activities just like the` world-wide adventure experiences that are being promoted majorly and massively.
3. Rescue Guidelines
MF and ATOAI will work on looking at ways of search and rescue in case of an accidents by getting in some satellite phones especially for the foreign expeditions. Mr. Mandeep Singh Soni an ATOAI member is heading the rescue committee for IMF, and we look forward to his recommendations, inputs and suggestions.
4. Environmental Concern
Ensure that the environment is clean, which will motivate travelers and explorers to visit again.
5. ATOAI – IMF MOU
Brig. Abbey said that ATOAI is an expert and have more knowledge and experience. So ATOAI should share the experience and inputs. ATOAI can also help to make the guidelines on certain issues for which a MOU should be created and discussed between ATOAI and IMF.
6. Safety Guidelines
Brig. Abbey said that IMF has revised the safety guidelines for few activities and the idea is to promote safe and best Indian Himalayas. ATOAI and IMF can make the best practice safety guidelines for adventure activities so that risk can be minimized and footfall can be maximized. Safety is the major concern for the people who come for the adventure activities.
Brig. Abbey said that ATOAI should relook into the activities which need revised safety guidelines and work on that accordingly.
7. Cleaning Expedition
It was discussed and agreed that ATOAI and IMF should be the partner in cleaning expedition. He said that every field in which we work together will make us stronger.
Mr. Vinayak Koul said that cleaning is one of the major things we need to focus. It is a part of environmental concern also.
Mr. Koul gave a brief about Adopt a Heritage project of the Ministry of Tourism and regarding the wo trails adopted by ATOAI 1) Mt. Stok Kangri Trail 2.) Gangotri Temple and Trail to Gaumukh and it cleaning and upkeeping.
8. Memorial for Late Mr. Akshay Kumar and Late Col. Narinder Kumar
A tribute to Late Mr. Akshay Kumar and Late Mr. Col. Narinder, the two stalwarts who were an integral part of the adventure tourism industry.
IMF will be presenting the memorial to their family along with the members of ATOAI and IMF by giving a presentation on their life and their achievements. We hope this event will to a source of motivation for many.
We surely miss you Akshay and Narinder. Adventure is not the same without you.
9. Skill Development
Skilled people are more likely to attract the footfalls as they provide assurance of safety. Therefore, focus on skill development for adventure tour operators across India.
Mr. Pradeep Murthy will further take this up with the chairman of safety committee of IMF, who will help create effective training sessions PAN India.
10. Risk Mitigation and Access Control
Several incidents have occurred which call for risk mitigation for the safety propose of every person outdoors.
A meeting with National Committee Chairman of IMF will be scheduled for taking this forward. Mr. Vaibhav Kala will be sharing his viewpoints on Risk Mitigation.
IMF has requested ATOAI support on the below:
1: Clandestine climbing’s: There have been cases where foreigners have been taken for climbs without the requisite permission and this is a serious security breach and could be penalized by the Government of India.
It is further mandatory that no foreigner can climb in India without taking permission from the IMF.
2: Trekking Permits: As of now it is not mandatory to take permission from IMF unless you are going on a serious route. But over a period of time there is being a substantial increase in the people who choose to go on trek applied with IMF. IMF is getting lots of requests, even from the small and normal operators that they want IMF approval for trekking.
ATOAI will share the proposals and suggestions in regards to trekking, which is unregulated as of now and must be regulated for safety purpose.
3: ATOAI Active Member List: Active members list of ATOAI members to be shared with IMF.
4: IMF Complex: IMF has very beautiful complex and auditorium. IMF is planning to give its premises on rent for corporate trainings for certain charges. ATOAI members will be given special discounts and offers.
5: IMF Membership Subscription: IMF will share a formal communication regarding the IMF membership subscription which has to be sent to ATOAI members.
6: Himalayan mountaineering Meet: ATOAI will be providing support for this event and will notify us accordingly.
We hope IMF and ATOAI can collaborate and have a positive impact on the adventure travel trade in India.
