PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
The Uttarakhand government is preparing a new tourism and adventure tourism framework to bring stricter safety rules for trekking, mountaineering and other adventure activities in the State.
Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB) deputy director Amit Lohani stated that the proposed policy will focus on tourist safety, mandatory registration of operators and better monitoring systems in remote and high-altitude areas where accidents and weather-related emergencies are common.
Lohani said that the policy is still under discussion, adding that consultations with different departments and stakeholders are currently underway and no final deadline has been fixed so far.
He informed that the government is planning to make registration compulsory for guides and tour operators involved in trekking and adventure tourism activities. The framework is also expected to include eligibility conditions and training requirements so that only trained operators are allowed to work in sensitive mountain regions.
The government is also considering mobile-based systems for permissions, tourist tracking and emergency communication support. This will help authorities monitor tourists travelling in remote areas during bad weather and emergencies, Lohani said.
Tourism expert Sheetal stated that many operators currently take tourists to high-altitude areas without proper registration or enough experience, raising safety concerns. She said that several trekking and mountaineering routes fall under the inner-line and border areas where government permissions are required, especially for foreign climbers. To simplify the process, the government is planning to introduce an online single-window clearance system.
The proposed framework will also help create a database of tourists, guides and tour operators working in Uttarakhand. This will improve accountability in cases of accidents, missing persons or deaths during expeditions, she added.
The Tourism and Forest departments are currently holding discussions on the proposal. Sheetal said that the framework may be placed before the cabinet soon, after completion of the due process.
The government is also working on improving rescue and emergency response systems in mountain regions. She said that guides are being given first-aid, rescue and high-altitude training.
