Dehradun: The 24th board meeting of the Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board, held on Tuesday, gave the green light to 20 agenda items. Among the key decisions were mandatory CPR training for all guides, particularly river rafting guides, and the approval of 18 adventure sports activities for the financial year 2026-27.
Destination Plans for Spiritual Sites
Approval was granted to prepare Destination Plans through expert consultants for the holistic and planned development of spiritual tourism sites, including Triyuginarayan Temple, Kartik Swami Temple, and Kainchi Dham. A consultant will be appointed to create comprehensive plans for these sites along with other spiritual tourism areas.
Amendments to River Rafting Rules
Comprehensive amendments to the River Rafting/Kayaking Rules 2014 were approved. These include changes to guide eligibility, licence renewal, mandatory safety equipment (Type-V life jackets and helmets), age limits, penal provisions for accidents and misconduct, and licence suspension or cancellation. The aim is to strengthen tourist safety in the state's rivers.
Enhanced Homestay Grants
Under the Trekking-Traction Home-Stay grant enhancement, the new construction grant has been increased from Rs 60,000 to Rs 1 lakh per unit. The room repair grant has been raised from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000. Additionally, community centres will be constructed on 10-15 major trekking routes.
Training Programmes for Youth
Training programmes for a total of 3,121 participants were approved to develop local youth as world-class Adventure Tourism Professionals. These include mountaineering, skiing, wilderness first aid, high altitude mountaineering guide course, water skiing, white water kayaking, river rafting, behavioural skill development, and paragliding training.
International Events Approved
A number of international events were approved in the board meeting, including the ATOAI National Convention (Kausani), Global Food Festival, Uttarakhand International Tourism Conclave (Dehradun, November 2026), and International River Rafting Festival (Tons river).
Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj said, “Uttarakhand is a unique confluence of nature, spirituality, and adventure activities. The decisions taken in the board meeting are important steps towards establishing Uttarakhand as one of the world’s leading adventure tourism destinations.”
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About the Author
Kautilya Singh is a Senior Assistant Editor at TOI with an inclination towards political reporting. He covers the chief minister's office, Congress, and tourism.
