Darjeeling, India – 20th January 2025 — The Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI), in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM), proudly announces the successful completion of the second edition of the Responsible Adventure Tourism Guide (RATG) Course, conducted in Darjeeling from 15th to 18th January 2025.

This initiative is part of a nationwide programme launched by the Ministry of Tourism in partnership with ATOAI, being rolled out across all five regions of the country. It reflects the Ministry’s unwavering commitment to promoting excellence, safety, and professionalism in India’s adventure tourism sector.

Empowering Responsible and Inclusive Adventure Professionals

The Darjeeling edition of the RATG course was a dynamic, four-day intensive programme that equipped 43 adventure guides from the eastern region with globally benchmarked skills and knowledge. The training was delivered by expert educators from the Hanifl Centre, an authority in wilderness first aid and sustainable adventure education, with academic and technical support from IITTM.

This transformative course was made possible with the strong support and leadership of:

1. Mr. Pranav Prakash, Regional Director, Eastern Region, Ministry of Tourism
2. Mr. Jotirmoy Biswas, Assistant Director, India Tourism, who also graced the event
3. Mr. Avijit Mishra, Executive Director, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA)
4. Mr. Dawa Sherpa, Field Director, GTA
5. Mr. Amit Periwal, ATOAI Executive Committee Member & Chapter Chairman (East), for his exemplary coordination and leadership
6. ATOAI extends its sincere gratitude to these partners for creating a collaborative and supportive learning atmosphere in Darjeeling.

Comprehensive Curriculum for Real-World Impact

1. The RATG course covered a wide range of critical subjects including:
2. Wilderness First Aid (WFA)
3. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) & Epinephrine Auto-Injector (EAI)
4. Leave No Trace (LNT) Principles
5. Professional Adventure Guiding Techniques
6. Sustainable Adventure Tourism Practices
7. ATOAI Safety Guidelines

Risk Management & Leadership

Liability & Negligence

Expedition Behaviour

Gender-Inclusive Approaches to Tourism

All participants successfully earned internationally recognized certifications in:

Wilderness First Aid (WFA)

CPR & Epinephrine Auto-Injector (EAI)

Leave No Trace (LNT) Awareness

These credentials empower them to respond to emergencies in remote areas and advocate for sustainable, inclusive tourism in their regions.

The Honorary Warden Pledge

The training culminated with the participants taking the ATOAI Honorary Warden Pledge, committing to:

Uphold safe and sustainable practices in adventure tourism

1. Follow Leave No Trace principles
2. Respect nature and host communities
3. Implement the Travel for Life guidelines

Promote gender-inclusive operations in the tourism sector

A Step Forward for Responsible Adventure Tourism

The successful graduation of 43 new responsible tourism ambassadors represents a major milestone in ATOAI’s ongoing mission to build a skilled, ethical, and environmentally conscious adventure tourism workforce.

This training programme stands as a significant step towards shaping the future of responsible adventure tourism in India, where exploration is deeply rooted in preservation.