The Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI), in collaboration with the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat, is gearing up to host the Annual Adventure Tourism Convention 2023 from December 16 to 18 at the iconic Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar. The convention, serving as a precursor to the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024, aims to foster collaboration, innovation, and sustainable practices within the adventure tourism sector.
The convention seeks to discuss emerging trends, establish regulatory frameworks, and create a roadmap for the development of adventure tourism in Gujarat. Aligning with ATOAI guidelines recognised by the Ministry of Tourism, the focus is on safety measures and promoting a ‘leave no trace’ ethos.
Carbon-Negative and Plastic-Free Event
The Annual Adventure Tourism Convention 2023 aspires to be a ‘Carbon-Negative’ event, offsetting its carbon footprint through a tree-planting initiative during the convention. Sharing its commitment to sustainability, ATOAI has also pledged to making the event single-use-plastic free.
Eminent figures, including Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu, and Tourism Minister Mulubhai Bera, will address the gathering. The event will also witness insights from notable personalities such as V Vidyavathi, Secretary Tourism, Lt General Rakesh Kapoor, Deputy Chief of the Army Staff (IS&C), Dr Sourabh Pardhi, Managing Director, Gujarat Tourism, and ATOAI President Ajeet Bajaj.
Economic Implications for Gujarat
Beyond immediate economic injections, the convention holds the potential to catalyze the growth of adventure tourism in Gujarat, attracting both domestic and international adventure enthusiasts. The diverse landscapes and cultural richness showcased during the convention can lead to increased employment opportunities and sustainable development.
Addressing the pre-convention press conference, Hareet Shukla, Secretary Tourism, Government of Gujarat, expressed the state’s commitment to exploring adventure tourism’s potential and establishing Gujarat as a premier adventure tourist destination in the next 2 to 3 years. With India’s diverse landscape, there is an immense opportunity for the country to become a global leader in adventure tourism. “In collaboration with ATOAI, we will explore adventure tourism in Gujarat and we aim to facilitate year-round tourism activities in Gujarat. Our objective is to establish the state as a premier adventure tourist destination in the next 2 to 3 years,” he said.
At the same time, ATOAI President Ajeet Bajaj outlined the immense potential for adventure tourism in India, aiming to place the country among the top 10 adventure travel destinations globally in the next decade. “Working closely with the Government of Gujarat, ATOAI is actively involved in shaping adventure tourism policies, skill development, safety guidelines, and sustainable practices. By 2024, the global adventure tourism industry is poised to become a trillion-dollar industry,” he said.
A gyrocopter, akin to a small helicopter, distinguishes itself by the absence of an engine turning the rotors, providing a unique and thrilling experience. “We have been operating air safaris in Rishikesh since 2014 with the support of the state government. Gyrocopter safaris will also commence from Rishikesh, offering tourists an aerial perspective of the region’s natural splendour,” said Manish Saini, the CEO of the private sports company managing the air safari.
During the convention, participants will visit the Statue of Unity and the Sardar Sarovar Dam, experiencing exhibitions, thematic adventures, adventure activities, ATOAI awards, panel discussions, and cultural performances. There will also be thematic sessions on the ‘Implementation of National Strategy for Adventure Tourism’ and ‘Developing Adventure Tourism with a special focus on promoting Travel for LiFE program’ will be conducted.
These sessions cover a variety of topics, including Leave no Trace & Standard Operating Procedures, Reputation Management, Outdoor Adventure Education, Carbon Neutral – Make Your Ops Net Zero, Preserving the USP While Managing Risk, Sustainability – the New Responsibility, and Promoting Adventure Tourism in India.
The convention also offered three pre-convention FAM tours to the delegates helping them create exciting itineraries to promote adventure tourism in Gujarat.
The ATOAI convention 2023 emerges as a pivotal platform for industry professionals, enthusiasts, and policymakers to collaboratively shape the future of adventure tourism in India. With a commitment to best practices, the convention aims to propel India into the top tier of adventure travel destinations while championing sustainable development and responsible tourism practices.
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With the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) gaining utmost prominence, the state is now trying to pin its focus on the sector, said Hareet Shukla (IAS), Secretary, Tourism Department of Gujarat. “MICE sector is one of the important efforts made in the tourism sector to increase all-year-round tourism. One of its features is that conferences and meetings are held all year round and due to this, there are many differences in the economy,” he acknowledged.
“According to last year’s report, Gujarat is the number one preference among the total foreign tourists visiting India in the tourism sector. Gujarat is also in the top five in the field of domestic tourism,” added Shukla.
As a prelude to the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat (TCGL) and India Convention Promotion Bureau (ICPB) are jointly organising a three-day event, The 14th Conventions India Conclave (CIC) on the theme of “Sustainable MICE: Empowering Event Towards the USD 5 Trillion Economy” from December 7 to 9 at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
“We are happy to host this conference in Gujarat. Our purpose is to highlight Gujarat in the Indian MICE Industry. For this, we aim to create a sub-brand, ‘Meet in India’. MoUs will be signed which will facilitate India’s MICE Industry and Tourism Sector,” informed Shukla.
The 14th Convention India Conclave, will be inaugurated by Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat, and Mulubhai Bera, Minister of Tourism, Cultural Activities, Forest and Environment, and Climate Change, Gujarat on 7th December 2023. As per the department’s estimated figures, about 300 delegates will participate in this program. Additionally, 30 exhibitors and 80 buyers will also be a part of the event.
In the context of this pre-event, Secretary Shukla held a press conference at Leela Hotel, Gandhinagar.
There was excitement noted for the upcoming Incredible MICE (iMICE) event, which is anticipated to further elevate India’s profile as a MICE destination. Calls were made for the strategic classification of MICE hotels to streamline the sector, and recognition was given to India’s substantial development in MICE infrastructure, with a strong recommendation for its continued expansion and enhancement.
Speaking at the conference, Dr. Sourabh Pardhi (IAS), Managing Director, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat (TCGL), reiterated that Gujarat has always been a leader in hosting big conferences and events.“Gujarat, with its rich cultural heritage, architectural marvels, and diverse landscapes, has emerged as a compelling destination for both leisure and business travellers. To take this to a different level and provide a platform for the 14th Convention India Conclave. In the context of MICE, Gujarat has always been the leader in organizing big conferences. We have organised G20, vibrant Gujarat, Defence expo, Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, and many more MICE events recently which got attention across the globe,” he said.
“This platform enables us to showcase Gujarat in locations where significant events draw a high footfall,” he asserted.
Amresh Tiwari, Vice Chairman, ICPB and Chairman 14th CIC spoke on the role of ICPB and their participation in the event. He said that the objective of the India Convention Promotion Bureau is to promote MICE. ICPB is a dedicated national apex body of India that showcases India as a leading MICE destination. It is an organization that was formed in 1998 between the Government of India, the Ministry of Tourism, and the private sector through PPP.
“Through ICPB we market the country for MICE and we are aiming to make our country a MICE destination for the world,” added Tiwari.
“Our vision is to establish at least 10 world-class MICE centers in the next 5 years and these should be considered among the top 50 in the world. One of which will also be from Ahmedabad,” he said.
He further revealed that ICPB will be organising B2B sessions and conferences on various topics on December 8 and 9, besides fixed meetings of exhibitors and buyers in the B2B session.
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The Central Government has invested INR 1000 crore, in the development of several locations within the region as part of the Heritage Circuit. Besides, places like Vadnagar, Nadabet and Dharoi are also being developed as major tourism hubs in Gujarat. Additionally, the state gets a green flag on several connectivity projects worth INR 5800 crore in Mehsana.
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