Leveraging India's Natural Heritage: A Call for Sustainable Adventure Tourism

Padma Shri awardee Ajeet Bajaj emphasizes the need to utilize India's rich natural heritage, which ranks 10th globally, to create new travel destinations focusing on nature and adventure. He advocates for sustainable tourism to protect these natural assets and highlights the potential of mega trails and border tourism.

India's natural heritage ranks 10th globally according to the World Economic Forum, presenting a vast potential for new travel destinations focusing on nature and adventure, says Padma Shri awardee Ajeet Bajaj.

Bajaj, honored in 2012 for his contributions to adventure sports, emphasized the importance of 'sustainable and well-managed tourism' to safeguard nature's treasures. He pointed out that India's varied terrain, including the Himalayas and extensive coastlines, requires responsible development to truly capitalize on its tourism strengths.

Bajaj highlighted the youth's need for adventure and nature connection, urging the promotion and sustainable management of adventure tourism. The Union tourism ministry's plans for mega walking trails and initiatives to promote border tourism aim to integrate remote areas into the mainstream economy, he added.

(With inputs from agencies.)