ATOAI with MOT conducted Responsible Adventure Tourism Guide Course in Chennai

Dec 24, 2024 02:37 150 0

ATOAI with MOT conducted Responsible Adventure Tourism Guide Course in Chennai

The Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI), in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, India Tourism (South) Chennai Office, and the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM), pleased to announce the successful completion of the Responsible Adventure Tourism Guide Course (RATG) held in Chennai from December 16th to 19th, 2024. The Ministry of Tourism sponsored this training program and in association with ATOAI organizing it in all 5 regions of the country, showing MOT’s commitment towards safe and quality operations in Adventure Tourism.

This significant initiative aimed at promoting safer, sustainable, responsible and gender-responsive adventure tourism practises in India was made possible through the exceptional support of Mr. D. Venkatesan, Regional Director, Southern Region, Ministry of Tourism, and his dedicated team. ATOAI extends its heartfelt gratitude to the Institute of Hotel Management Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, Chennai, for providing an ideal learning environment that enhanced the overall learning experience.

The intensive four-day training program was led by the Hanifl Center, a recognised authority on wilderness first aid and sustainable adventure education and trained 31 adventure guides from the southern region of India. With the knowledge support from the IITTM, this Course covered a wide range of essential topics, including Wilderness First Aid (WFA), Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Leave No Trace (LNT) Principles, Sustainable Practices in Adventure Tourism, Professional Adventure Guiding Techniques, ATOAI Safety Guidelines, Risk Management & Leadership Skills, Liability & Negligence, Expedition Behaviour, and the Honorary Warden Pledge. ATOAI has led the tourism industry to make all its events Gender Responsive.

The participants earned internationally recognized certifications namely Wilderness First Aid Certificate (WFA), Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) & Epinephrine Auto-Injector (EAI) Certificate and Leave No Trace (LNT) Awareness Certificate through the transformative learning experience and empowering them with the essential skills to respond effectively in emergency situations in remote environments.

The Responsible Adventure Tourism Guide Course concluded with the participants taking the Honorary Warden Pledge, reinforcing their commitments to:

  • Uphold safe and sustainable practices in Adventure Tourism

  • Follow Leave No Trace principles

  • Respect Nature and Host Communities

  • Implement the Travel for Life Guidelines

  • Promote Gender Responsive Operations

A Step Forward for Responsible Adventure Tourism

This course and the successful graduation of 31 new responsible tourism ambassadors marks a key milestone in ATOAI's mission to promote sustainable and responsible adventure tourism. This assuredly is a significant step towards shaping the future of responsible adventure tourism in India, ensuring that exploration goes hand in hand with preservation.