The Maharashtra Tourism Department has issued a strong advisory urging all adventure tourism operators, resort owners and service providers to strictly comply with the state’s formal Adventure Tourism Policy. The direction comes as the state government attempts to rein in unregulated travel operators and establish a safe, standardised ecosystem for adrenaline-seekers amid increased mishaps.
Fatal Accidents At Tourist Spots Trigger Safety Push
The state government's aggressive push for compliance follows a series of fatal accidents at unmonitored or risky tourist spots during peak holiday seasons. On August 2, a Thane-based 22-year-old dog trainer lost his life during a trek from Zenith waterfall to KP Waterfall, situated in Raigad’s Khopoli, after he lost his balance and fell into a deep gorge. In two separate incidents, two young boys lost their lives after drowning in Kalu river near Malshej Ghat, which is another famous tourist destination.
Such incidents have been occurring very frequently in high-risk tourist destinations in the state, forcing the state’s chief secretary to direct the government departments to prioritise citizen safety and keep risk-prone tourist spots off-limits during monsoon.
Departments Directed To Restrict Access To Risk-Prone Tourist Spots
The state’s Directorate of Tourism is pushing for universal registration and official certification of all commercial adventure activities to build tourist confidence and eliminate safety lapses. The policy mandates comprehensive safety protocols that operators must implement before taking tourists out on excursions.
The key safety mandates under the policy include the mandatory deployment of certified and trained local guides and instructors, the installation of watchtowers, directional signage, sirens, and safety nets at critical spots, dedicated emergency rescue setups, first-aid facilities and fire-safety arrangements on site, and the prior submission and approval of all required permissions.
Tourism Department Pushes Registration And Certification Of Operators
Tourism Director Vikas Pansare said, “The Adventure Tourism Policy is an important initiative that is giving a new direction to tourism development in the state. The policy has received a positive response across Maharashtra, and a range of adventure tourism activities are now being conducted more systematically and safely. This has helped strengthen tourists’ confidence while creating local employment. Operators must make full use of this policy and ensure their activities are officially registered."
The scope of the policy covers a wide network of stakeholders – including private companies, individual operators, non-profit organisations, adventure camps, resorts and training institutes. Activities like mountaineering, parasailing, scuba diving and bungee jumping are expected to see stricter oversight moving forward.
According to the tourism department, stakeholders and aspiring operators can access detailed policy guidelines, safety norms and complete their official registration online through the Tourism Department’s portal. Authorities have reiterated that non-compliant operators running unregistered risk-heavy activities face strict legal penalties and closures.
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