Chennai, India - 23rd December 2024 ,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), is pleased to announce the successful completion of the Responsible Adventure Tourism Guide (RATG) Course, held in Chennai from December 16 to 19, 2024, and attended by 31 participants.
Sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism, this important training programme is part of a broader initiative to be implemented across all five regions of India, reflecting the Ministry’s strong commitment to safe, sustainable, and high-quality adventure tourism practices.
A Milestone in Responsible Tourism
This initiative was made possible with the
exceptional support of Mr. D. Venkatesan, Regional Director, Southern Region,
Ministry of Tourism, and his dedicated team. ATOAI also extends heartfelt
gratitude to the Institute of Hotel Management Catering Technology and Applied
Nutrition, Chennai, for hosting the programme in an ideal learning environment
that significantly enriched the experience.
Led by expert trainers from the Hanifl Centre, a
recognised authority in wilderness first aid and sustainable adventure
education, the four-day training programme delivered a comprehensive and
immersive learning experience. With academic support from IITTM, the course
covered an essential spectrum of topics, including:
• Wilderness
First Aid (WFA)
• Cardiopulmonary
Resuscitation (CPR)
• Epinephrine
Auto-Injector (EAI)
• Leave
No Trace (LNT) Principles
• Professional
Adventure Guiding Techniques
• Risk
Management & Leadership
• Sustainable
Tourism Practices
• Liability,
Negligence & Expedition Behaviour
• ATOAI
Safety Guidelines
• Gender-Responsive Approaches in Adventure Tourism
Certified and Committed
Participants earned internationally recognized
certifications in:
• Wilderness
First Aid (WFA)
• Cardiopulmonary
Resuscitation (CPR) & Epinephrine Auto-Injector (EAI)
• Leave
No Trace (LNT) Awareness
These certifications empower guides to act swiftly and responsibly in remote and emergency situations, promoting a high standard of care and professionalism in the field.
The Honorary Warden Pledge
The course concluded with the participants taking
the ATOAI Honorary Warden Pledge, affirming their commitment to:
• Uphold
safe and sustainable practices in adventure tourism
• Follow
Leave No Trace principles
• Show
respect for nature and host communities
• Implement
the Travel for Life guidelines
• Promote gender-responsive operations in tourism
A Step Forward for Responsible Adventure Tourism
The graduation of 31 newly trained guides marks a
significant step forward in ATOAI’s mission to promote responsible and
sustainable adventure tourism across India. This course serves as a model for
future capacity-building efforts, ensuring that exploration and preservation go
hand in hand.
ATOAI remains committed to fostering a new generation of adventure professionals who are not only skilled and safety-conscious but also deeply respectful of the environment and local cultures they engage with.
