India targets top 10 global adventure tourism spot by 2034: ATOAI President Ajeet Bajaj

• Proposed two mega adventure trails positioning India strongly on the global adventure tourism map - The Western Himalayan Mega Trail and Eastern Himalayan Mega Trail. 

• Outlined ‘7 Sigmas’ framework, which includes Guide, Guidelines, Guests, Group Risk Ethos, Geographical Conditions, Great Communication and Gear.  

• Emphasised how regulation remains one of the most critical challenges for the sector. 

Adventure tourism today is a global industry valued at USD 683 billion, larger than the global textile industry, which stands at USD 667 billion, according to Ajeet Bajaj, President, Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI). Recently, Bajaj said that while pre-pandemic projections had estimated adventure tourism to reach the USD 1 trillion mark by 2024, the sector is now expected to achieve that milestone globally within the next two years.

India’s performance on the Adventure Tourism Development Index has also seen steady improvement. “India has now moved to the 38th position among nearly 190 countries surveyed,” Bajaj said. However, he added that the long-term vision is more ambitious. “We want India to be among the top 10 adventure tourism destinations in the world by 2034, and we are moving strongly in that direction.”

Bajaj highlighted that this progress is being driven by close collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism. He noted that India now has a national strategy for adventure tourism as well as a national board. “Since this is an inter-ministerial board, issues from different parts of the country are taken up collectively. Matters related to destinations such as Darjeeling and Rajasthan are discussed and resolved during board meetings. We are working together,” he said.

According to Bajaj, regulation remains one of the most critical challenges for the sector. ATOAI is currently working on a comprehensive adventure tourism safety framework, which will be shared with all state governments. One of its key provisions is to ensure that every adventure tourism operator in India is recognised or licensed by the respective state government. “Operators must use quality equipment, work with qualified guides and follow ATOAI guidelines,” he added. He also urged state governments to support licensed operators through access to soft loans and structured skill development programmes.

Bajaj also spoke about two proposed mega adventure trails aimed at positioning India more strongly on the global adventure tourism map. The Western Himalayan Mega Trail is planned to span approximately 2,800 kilometres, starting from the Jammu region, passing through Kashmir, Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh, and ending in Kumaon, Uttarakhand. A similar Eastern Himalayan Mega Trail is proposed to begin in the Darjeeling region, pass through Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, and conclude in Namdapha.

“We are also working with our friendly neighbouring countries, Nepal and Bhutan, to explore the possibility of making this one continuous trail,” Bajaj said, adding that while the initiative is still a work in progress, efforts are underway to bring it to reality in the near future.
 

Addressing safety and responsibility, Bajaj outlined ‘7 Sigmas’ framework, which includes Guide, Guidelines, Guests, Group Risk Ethos, Geographical Conditions, Great Communication and Gear.

On ‘Group Risk Ethos’, he shared, “When we are in adventure tourism, we are responsible for other people,” underlining the importance of adhering to international best practices and recognised safety standards. “There are inspectors today in our country who can certify us in a lot of these international standards. Let's do it for ourselves because when you follow these practices, you sleep easy at night knowing that you are doing the right thing.”

He stressed that ‘Guide’ form the backbone of any adventure tourism operation and called for greater investment in their training. “Whether it is rafting, mountaineering or trekking, guides must be certified, including in first aid and CPR. Without these certifications, they should not be operating in today’s adventure tourism environment,” Bajaj said.

On the third sigma – Gear, Bajaj shared, “In the army, they respect their weapons. As adventure operators, we have to respect and invest in internationally certified equipment.”

About ‘Guidelines’, he also pointed out the challenges arising from India’s federal structure, where adventure tourism policies vary across states. While some states have established recognition processes, licensing systems and incentives, others allow operators to function with minimal oversight. Bajaj urged operators to adopt strong standard operating procedures and make training an integral part of their business.

Speaking about ‘Guests’, Bajaj said safety must always take precedence. “We have to learn to say no,” he said, adding that operators must assess a guest’s fitness, experience and preparedness before allowing participation in adventure activities, for the sake of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’.

On ‘Geographical Conditions’, Bajaj referred to the global carbon footprint, which stood at 41.6 billion tonnes last year. “Those of us who work in the outdoors are seeing the effects firsthand, receding glaciers and unpredictable weather patterns,” he said. He stressed the need for flexibility, including altering or cancelling plans when conditions demand.

Seventh sigma - Communication, is integral both with guests and amongst adventure companies. Bajaj highlighted the importance of technology such as satellite phones, GPS devices and in-reach communication tools, which are currently under discussion with the Ministry of Tourism and other stakeholders.

Finally, Bajaj spoke about risk assessment and mitigation, urging operators to document near-misses and learning incidents as part of annual training. “Small errors, if ignored, can escalate into serious or even fatal accidents,” he said. He also highlighted the importance of due diligence when working with business partners, including clear contracts and accountability.

Concluding his remarks, Bajaj stressed the industry’s responsibility towards conservation. “The wilderness does not belong to the government alone. It belongs to all of us as citizens, and we must be its custodians, ensuring our wild places remain pristine for generations to come.”