The Southern Regional Office, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in association with the Adventure
Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI), successfully organized the Adventure Tourism Seminar in
Coimbatore on 28th October 2025. The seminar brought together 120 delegates, including adventure tour
operators, industry experts, government officials, and members of the adventure community, to deliberate
on the future of adventure tourism in India.
The seminar served as a collaborative platform to exchange insights and best practices on safety standards,
sustainability, skill development, and regional collaboration, aligning with the Ministry’s vision of
positioning India as a global adventure tourism destination under the National Strategy for Adventure
Tourism (2022).
The event commenced with a welcome address by Mr. Shekhar Babu, Executive Committee Member and
Chapter Chairman, Southern Chapter, ATOAI.
Delivering the keynote address on “India Tourism’s Vision for Adventure,” Mr. D. Venkatesan, Regional
Director (South), Ministry of Tourism, highlighted India’s vast natural advantages—its majestic Himalayas,
7,000 km of coastline, deserts, forests, and rich biodiversity—which together make India one of the world’s
most promising adventure destinations. He outlined the Ministry’s initiatives including the National
Adventure Tourism Board (NBAT), Capacity-building and strengthened safety and training frameworks
developed in partnership with ATOAI.
The Regional Director also encouraged participants and adventure operators to seek recognition from the
Ministry of Tourism through the NIDHI platform, emphasizing that registration enhances credibility,
ensures adherence to national standards, and provides access to capacity-building and promotional
opportunities.
The Chief Guest, Mr. Sanket Balwant Waghe, IAS, Additional Collector, District Rural Development Agency
(DRDA), Coimbatore, in his address on “Discover Coimbatore and Beyond: Emerging Trail & Adventure
Potential,” spoke about the immense potential Tamil Nadu holds for adventure tourism, given its diverse
geography, hill ranges, rivers, and coastline. He also highlighted that Coimbatore’s strategic location makes
it a natural gateway to adventure destinations such as the Nilgiris, Valparai, Pollachi, Anamalai, and
Palakkad, making it ideal for developing integrated adventure circuits.
“Coimbatore’s unique geographical advantage and strong tourism infrastructure position it as a natural
hub for adventure activities in South India. With the right collaboration between government and industry,
Tamil Nadu can emerge as a leader in responsible and sustainable adventure tourism,” said Mr. Sanket
Balwant Waghe, IAS, Additional Collector, DRDA, Coimbatore.”
A technical presentation by Mr. Nirat Bhatt, Honorary Treasurer, ATOAI, on “Ensuring Safe Adventures:
Standards, Protocols & Training & Adventure Law,” was followed by a lively panel discussion on
“Importance of Safety and Training the Team.” The session, moderated by Ms. Ajita Madan, Co-Chair
(Southern Zone), ATOAI, featured experts Mr. Suresh Kumar (Triumph Adventures), Mr. Srikanth Regadi
(Offbeat Compass LLP), and Mr. Anand Kumar Joachim (Nature Trails N Treks), who shared valuable field
experiences and perspectives on adventure safety and preparedness.
Mr. Ronny Singh Gulati, Honorary Secretary, ATOAI, spoke on “Strengthening the Adventure Tourism
Ecosystem,” emphasizing the importance of synergy between public and private sectors to create a culture
of safety and sustainability in adventure tourism.
The seminar concluded with an interactive session among adventure operators, ATOAI members, and
tourism officials, followed by closing remarks Smt.T. Jegatheswari, District Tourist Officer, Coimbatore.
Participants were presented with the ATOAI Safety Guidelines Book, and the event concluded with
networking over lunch.
The Adventure Tourism Seminar in Coimbatore is second in the series of the seminars being organised by
the Southern Regional Office, Ministry of Tourism, covering the Southern States. The first seminar was
organised at Hyderabad for the stakeholders in Telangana in the month of August 2025. This seminar today,
reaffirmed the commitment of the Ministry of Tourism and ATOAI to foster a culture of safety,
sustainability, and collaboration, while positioning Tamil Nadu and South India as emerging hubs for
adventure tourism under Viksit Bharat @ 2047.
