Tejbir Singh Anand elected President for 2026–28 as ATOAI charts the next phase of India’s adventure tourism growth
The Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) has ushered in a new leadership team for the 2026–28 term, with Tejbir Singh Anand elected as President, at a time when India’s adventure tourism sector is witnessing growing opportunities across destinations and experiences.
The new leadership was announced following ATOAI’s Annual General Meeting for FY 2025–26 and elections for the Association’s Office Bearers and Executive Committee. The elections were conducted under the supervision of Returning Officer Rajeev Kohli.
The new team takes charge with a clear focus on strengthening the fundamentals of India’s adventure tourism ecosystem—particularly safety, professional standards, sustainability, training, capacity building and stronger member engagement.
A New Team for a Changing Adventure Tourism Landscape
The newly elected leadership comprises Vaibhav Kala as Senior Vice President, Ronny Singh Gulati as Vice President, Paras Loomba as Honorary Secretary and Yog Chinmoy Dutt as Honorary Treasurer.
The Executive Committee includes Shekhar Babu, Amit Periwal, Vishwas Makhija, Milind Bhide, Arvind Bhardwaj and Oken Tayeng, among others, with Sonam Bhutia continuing as General Manager.
The leadership transition comes as India looks to leverage its vast and diverse adventure tourism assets—from the Himalayas and rivers to forests, coastlines and emerging destinations.
For ATOAI, the next phase of growth is not simply about increasing visitor numbers. It is about ensuring that the expansion of adventure tourism is backed by stronger operational practices, trained professionals, responsible destination management and internationally aligned safety standards.
Focus on Members and Industry Standards
Addressing members at the AGM, ATOAI Vice President Arshdeep Anand highlighted the Association’s work during the past year across safety, sustainability, professional development, advocacy and capacity building.
The Annual Report for FY 2025–26 reflected ATOAI’s continued engagement with government institutions, tourism authorities and industry stakeholders, while reinforcing the need for greater awareness and adoption of responsible adventure tourism practices.
The AGM also provided an opportunity for members to review the Association’s financial and institutional performance, including the adoption of the audited financial statements and appointment of the statutory auditor for FY 2026–27.
“Strengthen the Industry from Within”
For newly elected President Tejbir Singh Anand, the new term will focus strongly on creating tangible value for ATOAI members while building on the Association’s three-decade legacy.
“As we take this leadership forward, the new incoming team is deeply committed to building upon the strong legacy created over the last thirty years. Our core focus will be on delivering tangible membership benefits, fostering active mentorship, and truly listening to the evolving needs of our community,” Anand said.
He added that equipping members to adopt the highest operational and safety standards would be central to ATOAI’s agenda, with the ultimate objective of establishing India as a premier and responsible global adventure destination.
The Road Ahead
With adventure tourism increasingly becoming an important component of India’s broader tourism offering, ATOAI’s role is expected to extend beyond representing operators to helping shape the framework within which the industry grows.
The Association’s new leadership has indicated that it will continue working with government bodies, tourism boards, destination stakeholders and industry partners on policies and initiatives that enable responsible growth.
The larger challenge and opportunity will be to ensure that India’s adventure tourism story is built on safety, sustainability and professionalism, while creating meaningful economic opportunities for operators, local communities and destinations.
With a new leadership team now at the helm, ATOAI enters its 2026–28 term with an ambition to strengthen the industry from within and position India more firmly on the global adventure tourism map.
