The Executive Committee includes Vishwas Makhija, Managing Director of India Insight Tours Pvt. Ltd. (Immediate Past President); Milind Bhide, Founder and Director of Countryside Adventure Holidays Pvt. Ltd.; Amit Periwal of Clubside Tours and Travels Pvt. Ltd.; Yog Dutt, Founder Director of Junoon Adventure and Eco Tours Pvt. Ltd. and Shekhar Babu, Director of Transcend Adventures Pvt. Ltd.
At the ATOAI Fellowship Dinner held in New Delhi today, the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) conducted its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and elections. The new team of office bearers and the executive committee were chosen unopposed with Ajeet Bajaj continuing another term as the association’s President. The elected team will serve for the next two years.
Notably, Bajaj, the Padmashri Awardee and Managing Director of Snow Leopard Adventures Pvt. Ltd., was re-elected as President. Vaibhav Kala, Managing Director of Aquaterra Adventures India Pvt. Ltd., has been chosen as Senior Vice President. Arshdeep Anand, Director of Holiday Moods Adventures Spectrum, takes over as Vice President. Ronny Gulati, Managing Director of Youreka Campouts Services Pvt. Ltd., was elected as Honorary Secretary and Nirat Bhatt, Managing Director of Nidus Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., will serve as Honorary Treasurer.
The Executive Committee includes Vishwas Makhija, Managing Director of India Insight Tours Pvt. Ltd. (Immediate Past President); Milind Bhide, Founder and Director of Countryside Adventure Holidays Pvt. Ltd.; Amit Periwal of Clubside Tours and Travels Pvt. Ltd.; Yog Dutt, Founder Director of Junoon Adventure and Eco Tours Pvt. Ltd. and Shekhar Babu, Director of Transcend Adventures Pvt. Ltd.
The returning officer Rajeev Kohli, Joint MD of Creative Travel, made the announcement during the AGM.
Under this newly elected leadership, the association looks forward to continuing its efforts in promoting adventure tourism across India.
As the association also celebrates its 30 years on the September 22, a significant milestone, Bajaj reminisced how ATOAI started off with just about 7 or 8 members back then. “Captain Swadesh Kumar had a brilliant idea of creating this association and adventure tourism in India was just starting to take off. I believe we’ve come a long way since then,” he shared.
“Our vision at ATOAI is clear: we want India to be a global hotspot for responsible adventure tourism. We know we have the potential, with our natural heritage ranked among the top 10 globally. There’s still a long journey ahead, but we are committed to making this vision a reality,” he asserted.
Speaking on the sidelines with T3 about the burgeoning scene of adventure tourism in India, the newly elected Sr Vice President said, “There have been several positive developments over the last 8-10 years. Despite congestion and some inherent challenges, the industry has steadily grown. Notable progress includes the formation of a national board and the creation of a national strategy for adventure tourism. There’s now more conversation around laws and standards, bringing us to a potential tipping point for the future of adventure travel.”
When asked about his vision for next two years, he emphasised on delivering more member benefits besides pushing forward the adventure tourism agenda. “We also plan to encourage more in-person meetings, which slowed down due to COVID, but we’re aiming to get that momentum back,” Kala added.
During her conversation with T3, Vice President Anand expressed that she is incredibly humbled and grateful for all the trust and support received. “The founder Vice President of ATOAI was also a woman & now, after 30 years, we finally have a woman as Vice President, and now I am stepping into that role. Next week, we are celebrating the 30th anniversary, which makes this moment feel even more special.”
“Further, it’s heartening to see change happening, with more women stepping forward. I want to inspire women, especially in the adventure space, to seize these opportunities. There is room for them, and we’re excited for what’s to come,” she said.
Besides, one of her key focuses will be addressing women-centric topics and discussions, driving these conversations forward. “This is going to be a significant shift within ATOAI, and I’m eager to push boundaries alongside them, ensuring not only sustainable travel but also creating a safe, inclusive, and empowering environment for women.”
Recalling the recent ATOAI Women’s Collective webinar, Anand expressed interest in introducing more such topics, conducting surveys, and addressing the needs of the industry, not just for adventure travel but for tourism as a whole.
Before the election announcements, the Annual General Meeting 2023-24 was held. Ronny Singh Gulati presented the comprehensive annual report, showcasing ATOAI’s transformative initiatives and significant accomplishments throughout the 2023-24 period. Nirat Bhatt presented a detailed overview of the financial performance report for the year 2023-24. His thorough analysis covered critical financial metrics and insights into the association’s financial stability and operational performance during this period.
Resolutions passed at the AGM include the approval of the Previous Minutes from the 2023
AGM, held on September 20, 2023; financial report for 2023-24, unanimously approved by the AGM and formalizing the appointment of SPH & Associates, represented by Pawan Kumar Ambawta, as auditors for the 2024-25 financial year.
