The ATOAI is to organize its opening Himalayan Mountaineering and Adventure Tourism Meet from 31st January to 2nd February in 2023 in New Delhi.
The initiative has been taken on to promote the extreme perspective presented in the Himalayan Region of Northern India. The Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) has pushed for this meeting to bring closure to India’s mountaineering spots and experiential places. Captain Swadesh Kumar, the Founding President of ATOAI who now leads the Climbing Expeditions Promotion Committee stated that there is an immediate need to promote India’s Himalayan terrain. For over a century, mountaineering has been the support system for numerous activities such as trekking, rafting, skiing, camping, etc.
Mr. Vaibhav Kala, the officiating President of ATOAI, discussed the potential of the uncharted spots in the Northeast for bolstering mountaineering by stating some places of the northeast which can be advertised well for mountaineers to explore. Places like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Ladakh & Sikkim are already on the books for mountaineering around the world but locations like Arunachal Pradesh, the undiscovered Gorichen (6,858 m), and Kangto (7,060 m) peaks. These places can be promoted by placing international safety measures and guidelines concluded by Mr. Vaibhav Kala.
Commenting on the meet’s resumption, Mr. Vinayak Koul, the Honorary Secretary of ATOAI, expressed his joy in the revival of the meet which was first stated in the 1970s as a way to promote and put India on the mountaineering maps in the world. It was started by Air India, MOT, IMF, and a few of the Adventure Tour Operators. The exposure that will be brought by the Indian & International markets will be exciting to see.
Communicating his dissatisfaction with international mountaineers choosing Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, and China over India, Captain Kumar added, their inclusion of bringing in top mountaineers and international journalists who cover adventure tourism to join the event to showcase India’s true capabilities and proficiency.
The three-day event is set to host around 250-300 national envoys and 100 international delegates including adventure travel journalists, photographers, and Mountaineers. However, the event will be welcoming to mountaineering, tour operators, equipment manufacturers, and all others who have an avid interest in the adventure tourism industry.
