ATAOI to unleash tourism potential in AP

Visakhapatnam: The three-day 14th Annual Convention of Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATAOI) commenced in Araku Valley on Thursday focusing on the theme ‘Adventure Travel: Future Challenges & Opportunities in the digital age.’

Araku convention is being vitalised by a great activity schedule which will have delegates, explore and experience paramotoring, hot air ballooning, zorbing, high ropes, zip line and ATVs.

The conference and exhibition arena are set in the outdoors at the Forest Institute which was recently the venue for AP Cabinet meeting. Interspersed with sessions, networking and activity away from resident enclave; the evenings are opportunities to savour local Dimsa dance, exchange moments of each other’s notable moments, renew and make new alliances, said Vaibhav Kala, Convention Chairman.

The highlight of the convention is biggest participation from women adventurers from all over India. They will have a session on ‘Women in Adventure.’ Keeping the tradition of going to emerging hot spots in the country to showcase their potential as adventure tourism destinations, ATOAI comes to Araku Valley to unleash the adventure tourism potential that the state has to offer.

The objective behind coming to Araku is to bring into focus, new as well as established adventure products available in AP. Besides, bringing investment opportunities to adventure travel fraternity and providing networking opportunities with local stakeholders.

The annual convention of Adventure Tour Operators Association of India is to bring small operators from far flung areas of state and connecting them with adventure tourism experts, introducing a day of adventure activities to strengthen the fraternity.

The annual convention is supported and hosted by Andhra Pradesh Tourism but ATOAI is inviting all stakeholders to contribute in its resolve to make India the adventure capital of world.

The agenda will include sessions on how to achieve these goals, networking amongst delegates, exhibits by state tourism boards and industry players, and FAM trips and a day of adventure to showcase AP as a unique adventure travel destination.

“We are excited by the buzz it is creating in the fraternity and are enthused by the widening prospects of adventure travel beyond the Himalayan frontiers. ATOAI is ready to lead this movement,” said Capt Swadesh Kumar, president of ATOAI.

Business sessions will cover policy and taxation issues, marketing, branding, other matters of shared interests, presentations by tourism boards, and inspiring talks by travellers.

Huw Kingston, who is a well-known Australian Adventurer, writer and environmentalist, said he had spent over 30 years undertaking long human powered journeys in wild places across the world.

He has numerous awards to his name including the Australian Geographic Spirit of Adventure Award and was named one of Time Magazine’s 25 Worldwide Responsibility Pioneers for his long-term work to reduce plastic pollution.

The co-chairman of Convention is Andhra Pradesh's Shekhar Babu, who is an Everester himself and has the mantle of helping over 24 climbers from this state reach the summit of Everest. 20 Everesters from AP will also be present at the convention.

The convention will offer structured opportunities for travel trade and tourism boards to network for business development. These include networking sessions and a Buyer-Seller Expo where companies may take up table space to promote their products and services.

ATOAI is expecting over 250 participants mostly the leading adventure tour operators, hotels, DMCs, State Tourism Boards, travel trade from Andhra Pradesh and the neighbouring states in South India, officials from the Ministry of Tourism and the bloggers, influencers, Travel Trade Media and other key media companies to interact and network during the convention days.