ATOAI and MOT celebrate milestone with 2nd Responsible Adventure Tourism Guide Course in Darjeeling, West Bengal

The Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI), in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and the Indian Institute of Travel & Tourism Management (IITTM), is pleased to announce the successful completion of the second edition of the Responsible Adventure Tourism Guide Course (RATG), held in Darjeeling from 15th January to 18th January 2025.

The Ministry of Tourism has spearheaded this training initiative in collaboration with ATOAI, rolling it out across all five regions of the country. This strategic endeavor reflects the Ministry’s steadfast dedication to promoting excellence and ensuring the highest standards of safety in Adventure Tourism operations.

This transformative initiative, designed to foster safer, sustainable, responsible, and gender-inclusive adventure tourism practices in India, was made possible through the outstanding support of Mr. Pranav Prakash, Regional Director of the Eastern Region, Ministry of Tourism, and Mr. Jotirmoy Biswas, Assistant Director, India Tourism who also graced the occasion with his presence.

ATOAI extends its sincere gratitude to Mr. Avijit Mishra, Executive Director and Mr. Dawa Sherpa, Field Director, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) for their invaluable support in creating an exceptional learning environment that greatly enhanced the overall experience.  A special acknowledgment goes to Mr. Amit Periwal, Executive Committee Member and Chapter Chairman East – ATOAI, for his exemplary leadership and meticulous management in organizing the training program.

The Hanifl Center, a renowned authority on wilderness first aid and sustainable adventure education, conducted an intensive four-day training program for 43 adventure guides from eastern India. Supported by the expertise of the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM), the program delivered a comprehensive curriculum designed to elevate the standards of adventure tourism.

Key topics covered included Wilderness First Aid (WFA), Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Leave No Trace (LNT) Principles, Sustainable Adventure Tourism Practices, Professional Guiding Techniques, ATOAI Safety Guidelines, Risk Management and Leadership, Liability and Negligence, Expedition Behavior, and the Honorary Warden Pledge. The Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) also emphasized the importance of gender-inclusive practices in tourism, underscoring the commitment to inclusivity.

Through this transformative training, participants earned globally recognized certifications: Wilderness First Aid (WFA), Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Epinephrine Auto-Injector (CPR & EAI), and Leave No Trace (LNT) Awareness. The course equipped them with critical skills to effectively manage emergencies in remote environments and adopt sustainable practices in their guiding careers.

The Responsible Adventure Tourism Guide Course concluded with the participants taking the Honorary Warden Pledge, a solemn commitment to uphold the highest standards of safety, sustainability, and responsibility in adventure tourism:

• Uphold safe and sustainable practices in Adventure Tourism
• Follow Leave No Trace principles
• Respect Nature and Host Communities
• Implement the Travel for Life Guidelines
• Promote Gender Inclusive Operations

A Step Forward for Responsible Adventure Tourism This course and the successful graduation of 43 new responsible tourism ambassadors marks a key milestone in ATOAI’s mission to promote sustainable and responsible adventure tourism. This assuredly is a significant step towards shaping the future of responsible adventure tourism in India, ensuring that exploration goes hand in hand with preservation.