Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) held its Extra Ordinary General Body Meeting and Elections on the March 18 at The Park Hotel, New Delhi.
The office bearers & Executive Committee team of the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) have been elected unopposed.
Capt. Swadesh Kumar, Managing Director, Shikhar Travels India Pvt. Ltd. is continuing as the President for the second term. Sanjay Basu, Managing Director, Far Horizon Tours Pvt. Ltd. is elected as Sr. Vice President. Tejbir Singh Anand, Managing Director, Holiday Moods Adventures Pvt. Ltd, will continue as Vice-President. Vinayak Koul – Director- SnowLion Expeditions Pvt. Ltd. has been elected as the Hony. Secretary Vaibhav Kala- Founder, Aquaterra Adventures & Atali Ganga will continue as the Treasurer for next two years.
The new elected Executive Committee team:
Akshay Kumar, CEO, Mercury Himalayan Explorations Ltd, Immediate Past President
Ajeet Bajaj, Managing Director, Snow Leopard Adventures Pvt. Ltd
Rajesh Ojha, Director, Banjara Camps & Retreats
Vishwas Makhija, Managing Director- India Insight Tours Pvt. Ltd
Ravi S. Kalra, Managing Director, Travel Inn Pvt. Ltd
Cdr. Sam T Samuel-Director, Kalypso Adventures Pvt Ltd from Kochi, Kerala
Pradeep Murthy, Director, MuddyBoots Vacations, Wayanad, Kerala
This is the first time two EC members have been elected from South India. The ATOAI team aims to take the association to new heights and to get international recognition. The office bearers will also try to resolve issues that have been plaguing adventure tourism in the country. To widen its member base, ATOAI team plans to enroll new members from PAN India. The objective is to have more like-minded people to come together and put India on the World Map for various adventure tourism activities.
For the next two years, the focus will be on major industry issues such as client safety, having a clean environment, quality control, trained adventure guides, educational seminars for the training of outdoor staff in First Aid/ CPR etc and promoting sustainable adventure tourism.