Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 16 Jun: The 24th Board Meeting of the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB) was held today at IHM Garhi Cantt, Tourism Headquarters, here, under the chairmanship of Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj. All Board Members and their nominated representatives participated in the meeting.
Among those present were Dhiraj Singh Garbyal, IAS, CEO & Secretary Tourism (Member Secretary, UTDB); Sandeep Tiwari, IAS, Additional CEO, UTDB & Managing Director, GMVN; Vineet Tomar, IAS, Managing Director, KMVN; nominated representatives from the Finance, Transport, and Energy Departments; and non-official Board Members from the tourism sector and their authorised representatives.
All 20 agenda items placed before the Board were unanimously approved.
On the occasion, Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj stated, “Uttarakhand is Devbhoomi—a unique confluence of nature, spirituality, and adventure. The decisions taken in today’s Board Meeting are significant steps toward establishing Uttarakhand as one of the world’s leading adventure tourism destinations.”
The Board approved the following major international events for the financial year 2026–27: ATOAI National Convention – Kausani. For the first time, Uttarakhand will host the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) National Convention, bringing together more than 500 national and international tourism experts. Uttarakhand International Tourism Conclave – Dehradun (November 2026) is to be organised through the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO). The conclave will bring together tour operators, hotel chains, travel agents, and tourism stakeholders from across India.
A Global Food Festival to be held in Dehradun/Ramnagar, will be organised in association with the Indian Federation of Culinary Associations. The festival will showcase Uttarakhand’s rich culinary and gastronomic heritage to a global audience.
The International River Rafting Festival on Tons River will promote the river as an internationally recognized adventure tourism destination.
The Board approved an annual calendar comprising 18 adventure tourism events covering water, land, and aerial activities. Key events include Niti Extreme Ultra Marathon; Adi Kailash Parikrama Run; MTB Challenge; National Kayaking and Canoeing Championship; Auli Winter Carnival; Tehri Acro Festival; Trek of the Year; Mountaineering Expedition; Nayar Valley Festival; Corbett Paragliding Festival; Dayara Winter Carnival; Munsyari Winter Carnival.
The Board also approved the preparation of comprehensive destination development plans through expert consultants for spiritual tourism destinations.
These include Triyuginarayan Temple, Rudraprayag, which is renowned as the sacred site of the divine marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. The destination will be developed with enhanced pilgrimage and destination wedding facilities. For the Kartik Swami Temple, Rudraprayag, development plans will focus on trekking infrastructure, visitor amenities, and pilgrimage facilities at this revered Himalayan shrine dedicated to Lord Kartikeya. Kainchi Dham, Nainital, the internationally known spiritual centre associated with Neem Karoli Baba, will see improvements in visitor management systems, parking facilities, and public amenities. A consultant will also be appointed to prepare comprehensive plans for other spiritual tourism destinations across the state.
The Board approved training programmes for 3,121 youth to develop a skilled workforce of world-class adventure tourism professionals. Training modules will include Mountaineering, Skiing, Wilderness First Aid, High Altitude Mountaineering Guide Courses, Water Skiing, White Water Kayaking, River Rafting, Behavioural Skill Development, and Paragliding.
Other major approvals included Budget, Infrastructure, and Governance Reforms.
CPR certification will be made mandatory for all tourism guides, particularly those involved in river rafting and other adventure activities, to enhance tourist safety and service quality.
There will be enhanced Home-Stay Grants on Trekking Routes. The new construction grant has been increased from Rs 60,000 to Rs 1,00,000 per unit. There will be financial assistance of up to Rs 5,00,000 per cluster. The room renovation grant has been increased from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000. Also, community centres are to be developed along 10–15 major trekking routes.
Amendments have been made to River Rafting and Kayaking Rules, 2014. These include revised guide eligibility criteria; Licence renewal provisions; Mandatory safety equipment such as Type-V life jackets and helmets; Age restrictions; Penalties for accidents and misconduct; Provisions related to suspension and cancellation of licences.
These reforms are expected to further strengthen tourist safety standards on Uttarakhand’s rivers.
The meeting aimed to establish a strong foundation for sustainable, inclusive, and people-centric tourism development in Uttarakhand. The decisions taken are aligned with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the commitment of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj to take Uttarakhand tourism to new heights on the national and international stage, it was stated.
