TOURISM INDIA MARCH 2019 Tourism India January 2019 IA | Page 27

14
th Annual Convention of
Adventure Tour Operators
Association of India (ATAOI)
from January 17-20, 2019, which
focused on the theme ‘Adventure
Travel: Future Challenges &
Opportunities in the digital age’ has
concluded with a success note at
picturesque Araku Valley in Andhra
Pradesh.
Mr. Mukesh Kumar Meena, I.A.S.,
Secretary to Government, Tourism
& Culture, Government of Andhra
Pradesh inaugurated the convention
in the presence of Mr. Himanshu
Shukla. I.A.S, Director Tourism, Govt.
of Andhra Pradesh and Mr. Huw
Kingston, renowned adventure traveler
from Australia and ATOAI office
bearers.
Capt. Swadesh Kumar, President
of ATOAI while delivering his
presidential address, said that major
highlight of the convention is the
biggest participation from women
adventurers from all over India.
Keeping the tradition of going to
emerging hot spots in the country to
showcase their potential as adventure
tourism destinations, ATOAI comes to
Araku Valley to unleash the adventure
tourism potential that the state has to
offer. He also informed that ATOAI is
inviting all stakeholders to contribute
in its resolve to make India the
adventure capital of world in 2025.
Mr. Rajesh Ojha, Secretary, ATOAI
urged convention delegates to take up
safety policy and standard guidelines to
all the stakeholders from the adventure
fraternity as to focus on an adventure-
filled safety experience. ATOAI has
recently formulated a well researched
safety and security guideline for
adventure travel in India and this
guideline has formally approved by
Ministry of Tourism, Government of
India.
Keynote speakers Mr. Huw Kingston,
an Australian adventurer, writer, and
environmentalist spoke about his
Mr. Mukesh Kumar Meena, I.A.S., Secretary - Tourism & Culture, Government of Andhra Pradesh
inaugurating the ATOAI annual convention at Araku Valley in the presence of Mr. Himanshu Shukla.
I.A.S, Director Tourism, Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Huw Kingston, renowned adventure traveler, Capt .
Swaddesh Kumar President and ATOAI office bearers.
journey and love for Indian Himalaya,
while Mr. Brian Almeida, a customer
loyalty expert engaged the audience
with insights on how to bring
customer as the focus of any business
and build a strong relationship with
them, Ms. Dilshad Master Kumar, a
brand media specialist spoke about
‘Brand positioning in the competitive
age.’
Mr. Himanshu Shukla. I.A.S, Director
Tourism, Govt. of Andhra Pradesh and
MD, APTDC has presented a detailed
view of AP Tourism and adventure
travel potential along with investment
opportunity in Andhra Pradesh.
According to Mr. Himanshu SHukla
IAS, the main objective behind
bringing ATAOI Annual convention
to Araku is identify and focus, new as
well as established adventure products
available in AP to the world through
the realpractisioners and ambassadors
of Adventure travel in India. Besides,
bringing investment opportunities
to adventure travel fraternity and
providing networking opportunities
with local stakeholders.
During the two days deliberations,
many presentations and discussions
were caught attention of the delegates
due its nail baiting adventure travel
experiences and eye opener to the new
entrants to the field. Few sessions
were really an inspiring especially the
Kilimanjaro mountain expedition by
visually challenged trekkers lead by
Ms. Anupama Balasubramaniam and
the Ultra Cycle challengses through
Unisted states by Lt. Col. Dr. Srinivas
Gokulnath from Indian Army.
“We have designed and Structured
the convention programme to
interspersed with sessions, networking
and activity away from resident
enclave; the evenings are opportunities
to savour mouth watering spicy
Andhra cuisines along with local
Dimsa dance, exchange moments of
each other’s notable moments”, renew
and make new alliances, said Mr.
Vaibhav Kala, Convention Chairman.
Mr. Shekhar Babu from Hyderabad,
was the co-chairman of Convention,
who is an Everester himself and has
the mantle of helping over 24 climbers
from AP to reach the summit of
Everest. The AP state holds a record
of twenty Everest Summiteers who
were also invited and felicitated in the
convention.
The major highlight of the
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