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.
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