The Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) will hold its first AdventureNEXT event in Asia 3-5 December 2018 in Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh, India. Previous AdventureNEXT events have been held in Ohrid, Macedonia; San Luis Potosi, Mexico; and in Jordan. AdventureNEXT events combine marketplace meetings, networking opportunities, inspirational speakers and discourse, and educational sessions. They also unite countries and destinations in a region with a singular objective, increasing awareness about the abundance of adventure travel opportunities.
AdventureNEXT India will include adventure trips throughout India for buyers and media, but there will be a special focus on activities in Madhya Pradesh, a state with a rich variety of adventure travel options, natural features, and urban attractions including diverse wildlife, nature trails in the Vindhyachal and Satpura mountain ranges, lakes, bustling markets, forts, and palaces.
Following the pre-adventures, the entire delegation will meet in Bhopal at Minto Hall, which is reminiscent of Old World charm in the midst of a vibrant city. “Madhya Pradesh Tourism is thrilled to host AdventureNEXT in Bhopal, the beautiful lake city located in the heart of India, in December 2018. The friendly people of Madhya Pradesh will be eagerly looking forward to showcasing their exquisite traditional culture, rich heritage, architecture, textiles, handicrafts, cuisine, and Indian hospitality,” said Hari Ranjan Rao, commissioner of tourism and managing director of the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board.
“The partnership with ATTA will enable major stakeholders in India and Madhya Pradesh Tourism to connect with the best and most discerning connoisseurs of the progressive tourism industry,” he added.
“India has been on our radar for a long time as a strong contender to hold an AdventureNEXT event,” said Shannon Stowell, CEO of the ATTA. “There are many dedicated and talented Indian members of the ATTA and we’re so thrilled to put on this event to partner with and support them.” Stowell, who just returned from speaking at Adventure Sports Expo Asia in India, had a chance to participate in some of the experiences delegates will have during AdventureNEXT India. “We were able to sample three different parts of the country, including Madhya Pradesh,” he said. “It was amazing — rafting in the Ganges, on safari looking for tigers in a teak forest, and experiencing the cities of Bhopal and Delhi.”
The Adventure Tourism Operators Association of India (ATOAI) will be a key partner with the ATTA for this event and has committed its unreserved support. Adventure travel sits at the intersection of commerce, conservation, and community, which will be a driving ethos for the event.
“After experiencing ATTA events around the world, we realized there was a huge potential to showcase Indian adventure products to the ATTA’s members. Delegates at the event will have a plethora of opportunities to experience what the Indian adventure industry has to offer,” said Capt. Swadesh Kumar, ATOAI’s president. “Madhya Pradesh is a well-known destination for tiger tourism, and it has five national parks of international repute, a rich cultural heritage, and a variety of opportunities to meet and interact with members of the local communities.
“ATOAI feels privileged and honoured to be associated with the ATTA, the leading voice of the international adventure community. We look forward to the event as a fantastic networking and business opportunity not just for the delegates but also for the media, bloggers, and explorers and adventurers who will be participating in the event,” Kumar said.