International tourism conclaves, spiritual destination scheme approved by UTDB board
PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Various activities ranging from adventure tourism events to the spiritual destination scheme were approved in the 24th board meeting of the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB) chaired by Tourism minister Satpal Maharaj on Tuesday.
Officials informed that at least four international tourism conclaves will be held in the financial year 2026-27. These include The ATOAI national convention at Kausani to be hosted for the first time in Uttarakhand, the Uttarakhand International Tourism Conclave to be held in Dehradun in November involving tour operators, hotel chains, travel agents and tourism stakeholders, the Global Food Festival to be held by Indian Federation of Culinary Association in Dehradun/Ramnagar to globally exhibit Uttarakhand’s food heritage and the International River Rafting Festival on Tons river to develop it an as international adventure sports destination. Eighteen events were approved as part of the Adventure Event Calendar 2026-27.
These include the Niti Extreme Ultra Marathon, Adi Kailash Parikrama Run, MTB Challenge, National Kayaking/Canoeing Championship, Auli Winter Carnival, Tehri Acro Festival, Trek of the Year, Nayar Valley Festival, Corbett Paragliding Festival, Dayara and Munsyari Winter Carnival, among others. The board also approved the preparation of destination plans for the all-round and planned development for spiritual tourism in Triyuginarayan temple, Kartik Swami temple and Kainchi Dham. Additionally, a consultant will be appointed for preparing detailed plans for these and other spiritual tourism destinations.
To develop local youth into adventure tourism professionals, training will be provided to 3,121 under the adventure tourism programme 2026-27. They will be trained in subjects like mountaineering, skiing, wilderness first aid, high altitude mountaineering guide, water skiing, river rafting and behavioural skills, among other aspects. It was also decided that all guides, especially in river rafting, will have to undergo a mandatory CPR course to enhance the quality of adventure tourism. Under trekking-traction homestay grant enhancement, the grant for new construction will be increased from Rs 60,000 to Rs 1,00,000 per unit. The building repair grant will be increased from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000. While community centres will be built on10 to 15 major trekking routes, elaborate amendments will also be made in the River Rafting/Kayaking Rules 2014.
The UTDB board approved amendments related to guide eligibility, licence renewal, mandatory safety equipment (type V life jackets, helmets), age limit, penal provisions regarding accidents and misconduct, among other aspects. Maharaj said, “Uttarakhand is a unique mix of nature, spiritualism and adventure activities. The decisions taken in the board meeting constitute an important step towards establishing the State as a leading global adventure tourism destination,” he said.
