National Strategy for Adventure Tourism- Relevance for UPSC Exam
- GS Paper 2: Governance, Administration and Challenges- Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
National Strategy for Adventure Tourism in News
- Recently, the Union Tourism Ministry has formulated National Strategy for Adventure Tourism to promote India as a preferred adventure tourism destination globally.
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National Strategy for Adventure Tourism
- About: The Ministry of Tourism has drafted national strategy on Sustainable tourism which focuses promoting environmental sustainability, protecting biodiversity, promoting economic sustainability and promoting socio-cultural sustainability.
- Ministry of Tourism has recognised Adventure Tourism as a Niche Tourism Product, which inter alia includes Water Sports activities, to promote India as a 365 days destination and attract tourist with specific interest.
- Mandate: The strategy aims to mainstream sustainability into tourism sector. Adventure tourism is one of the important segments to promote sustainable tourism.
- Vision: To position India as a preferred destination for adventure tourism globally. 2.3.
- Mission: To develop an enabling ecosystem for growth of Adventure Tourism in the Country and creating synergies amongst Central Government, State Governments, Private Sector and local communities, for development of Adventure Tourism.
- Strategic Pillars under Strategy: Draft National Strategy for Adventure Tourism recognizes following as the strategic pillars of the strategy-
- State assessment, ranking and strategy
- Skills, capacity building and certification
- Marketing and promotion
- Strengthening adventure tourism safety management framework
- National and State-level rescue and communication grid
- Destination and Product Development
- Governance and Institutional Framework
Implementation of National Strategy for Adventure Tourism
- National Board for Adventure Tourism (NBAT): It has been constituted under the Chairpersonship of Secretary (Tourism).
- NBAT comprises of representatives from identified Central Ministries/ organizations, State Governments/UT Administrations and Industry Stakeholders.
- Mandate: National Board for Adventure Tourism is entrusted with the objective of operationalization and implementation of the strategy to promote and develop adventure tourism in the Country.
- Scope of National Board for Adventure Tourism (NBAT): Its’ scope of activities includes following-
- Detailed action plan and formulation of dedicated scheme
- Certification Scheme
- Safety guidelines
- Capacity building, replication of national and global best practices
- Assessment of state policies and ranking
- Marketing and promotion
- Destination and product development
- Private sector participation
- Specific strategies for adventure tourism
- Any other measures for growth of adventure tourism in the country.
- National Institute for Water Sports (NIWS): Ministry of Tourism, through NIWS, Goa, provides training to water sports operators through various skill developing courses and certify the trainees.
Adventure Tourism in India
- What is adventure tourism?
- Adventure tourism is a trip that includes at least two of the following three elements physical activity, natural environment and cultural immersion.
- Types of Adventure Tourism:
- Hard Adventure Activities: Adventure tourism activities that involve a high level of risk and require a greater level of expertise, skills, training and experience.
- High altitude mountaineering, river rafting, scuba diving, hang gliding, skydiving comes etc. are hard adventure activities.
- Soft Adventure Activities: Adventure tourism activities that involve moderate levels of risk and the tourists involved in these activities do not require particular skill or experience.
- Most tourists take soft adventure activities for recreation and fun as it involves a lesser level of risk.
- Hiking, camping, biking comes under soft adventure activities.
- Adventure Tourism – India’s Significant Geographical Advantage
- 70 per cent of the Himalayas
- 7,000 kms of coastline
- Among the one of the three countries in the world with both hot and cold deserts
- Ranks 10th in total area under forest cover
- Ranks 6th in terms of number of recognized UNESCO Natural Heritage sites
- India’s potential for Adventure Tourism: Despite natural wealth and potential, India ranks quite low in global adventure tourism.
- India holds great potential to become a global marketplace for adventure activities and sports.
- India has tremendous potential to attract adventure tourists from different parts of the World.
- From North to South and East to West, the geographical conditions of the country provide a competitive edge regarding the development of adventure tourism opportunities.
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