The 15th Annual Adventure Tourism Convention of the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) took place December 16–18, 2023, at the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar. The over 300 delegates in attendance at the event, which was sponsored by the Gujarat Tourism Corporation, served as a prelude to the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit in January 2024.
Distinguished dignitaries attended the inauguration ceremony, including Lt. Gen. Rakesh Kapoor, VSM Deputy Chief of Army Staff, Padmashree Ajeet Bajaj, President of ATOAI, Vaibhav Kala, Convention Chairman and Vice President of ATOAI, and Tejbir Singh Anand, Senior Vice President, ATOAI. Sourabh Pardhi, Managing Director and Commissioner of Gujarat Tourism, Hareet Shukla, Secretary of Tourism, Government of Gujarat, Khayati Nayak, Manager, Niche Tourism Gujarat, Anil Oraw, Regional Director, North East, Ministry of Tourism, Lt. Gen. Rakesh Kapoor, VSM Deputy Chief of Army Staff, Pema Khandu, Hon. Other government representatives and officials from the federal, state, and local levels also attended the gathering. Ajeet Bajaj greeted the guests and emphasized that ATOAI works with travel agencies to improve regulations related to adventure travel across the country.
The convention included panel discussions, experience-sharing sessions, and keynote talks on adventure tourism and industry growth throughout the day. Pema Khandu emphasized the Northeastern region’s and the state’s abundant potential for adventure tourism. He emphasized the intention of creating thriving communities for sustainable tourism and applauded the efforts of Hon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in promoting tourism through programs like “Dekho Apna Desh.”
Mulubhai Bera talked about how PM Modi is turning Gujarat into one of the top adventure travel destinations. He lauded efforts made under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership that led to recognition such as the UNWTO’s “Best Tourism Village” Award for Dhordo and UNESCO’s designation of Garba as a “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.” He emphasized the variety of the state’s attractions as well as the important contribution adventure tourism makes to the economy. Hareet Shukla discussed Gujarat’s attempts to boost the tourism industry and its top spot as a travel destination.
Actor and fitness enthusiast Milind Soman gave a special speech on the value of adventure travel in the nation. A panel discussion led by Lt. Rakesh Kapoor on “The Adventure Trilogy: Mega Trails, Border Tourism, and Vibrant Villages” was another event of the convention. During the event, several presentations on adventure tourism in Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, and Gujarat were given.
A number of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed as part of the state’s effort to increase tourism in advance of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit in January 2024. The knowledge-sharing agreements, were together valued at Rupees 770 crores, were centred on adventure tourism, film production, and infrastructure development. It is expected that these efforts would bear fruit at the next Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, which will take the state’s tourism economy to new heights.
Beyond simply exploring exciting excursions against the breathtaking backdrop of the Statue of Unity, this convention set a standard for sustainability by pledging to be a carbon-negative and single-use plastic-free event. The Honourable Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu, has extended an invitation to ATOAI to host its 16th Annual Convention amidst the stunning scenery of the state.
