ATOAI to create new chapters

Vishwas Makhija, President, Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI), has said that his association is
finding ways forward to create new Chapters at the state level. His team has identified five states already and they will go forward with the detailed Chapter formation.

Manas Dwivedi

The Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) has been mulling creating new chapters to expand its reach. In fact, the Association has already identified five states where it would form such state chapters going forward. Besides, the adventure tourism body has also launched a series of Adventure Talks through its Saturday Members Meet. These talks are inspirational stories from near and far about journeys of our fellow adventurers, informs Vishwas Makhija. “We have tried to change the track. Instead of regular meetings, we are trying to get some more content for our members, more enthusiasm in terms of reviving members’ morale and spirits. When they hear these stories from first-hand experience of people, it is really inspring,” he said.

“We are also trying to bring some relief to members in inner Himalayan states and villages. We are currently working on it to create a team on the ground in areas such as Spiti, Sangla, Kunoo Valley in Ladakh. This includes first response to COVID medicines,” he further said.

Sharing his message for association members, Makhiija urged them to contribute to the COVID Task Force created by FAITH to provide authentic information during the pandemic.

“The communication has already been shared with our members and I request our members to come forward and provide information about the resources or professionals, and its confirmed availability in their respective city/area. I urge you to please provide a helping hand to the communities around us and everyone who needs our help right now. I say this is our time to demonstrate grace under pressure. The safety of all of us is paramount. Stay calm, stay safe, follow the guidelines to minimise your exposure and the spread of coronavirus in your community and the communities you serve,” he said. After announcing the format of the Women’s Task Force on International Women’s Day, Makhija shared that the task force had convened two meetings so far. “It is work in progress. I am sure that good things will happen as COVID restrictions are lifted and destinations open up. ATOAI is trying to be more relvent and more focused towards its members to give more value. We want to be there for our members for best we can do in the current pandemic situation,” he said. ATOAI has also submitted a proposal to the Tourism Minister of Uttarakhand to uplift the adventure tourism industry of Uttarakhand during the ongoing pandemic. The association has demanded to wave off ‘rafting permit fee’ for the upcoming season (September 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022), facilitate trekking permits with greater lead time through a single window system with the forest department to enable better planning, reopen ‘beach camp-sites’ on the banks of the Ganga river to help infuse the popular beach camp product which remains unique across the globe, to reopen trekking and camping in the ‘bugyal’, to constitute Ganga Nadi Rafting Prabandhan Samiti (GNR) funds for planning of river put-in/pull-out access points and open up the Rishikesh-Haridwar section for July-August to lengthen the season and make it a year-round attraction.