Indian travellers are pushing the boundaries of adventure tourism in the country as they seek new experiences.
Thrillophilia, the largest adventure travel aggregator in India, has registered a 400% growth in its numbers for a second consecutive year since it was founded in 2010, subsequently increasing India’s US$2bn stake in the US$142bn global adventure travel space.
Abhishek Daga, Co-Founder of Thrillophilia, said; “The Indian travel industry is following global cues. In the last decade, adventure travel has been the fastest growing travel segment globally. In 2000, adventure travel accounted for just 7% of global tourism. In 2009, the number had risen to 20%.”
Resorts and operators are responding to the growing demand for adventure by offering activities such as paragliding or zorbing, in and around the destinations where they are located. Furthermore this growing thirst for adventure is also encouraging tourism disbursal as travellers look for new, offbeat destinations and different activities.
Daga said; “In the near future, adventure will not only be limited to Rishikesh rafting or a scuba diving trip off Andaman Islands, but it will diversify into different streams. Already, we are seeing a surge in luxury adventure travel, and as people get more comfortable with the idea, they are bound to explore other segments too.”
This is already manifesting in certain areas of the country. Stanzin Tsering, the owner of a guesthouse in Ladakh, said; “In the last two years or so, we have seen more number of tourists visiting Ladakh than ever before. The rise in numbers is as much as 200%. I guess people have become bored of the usual holiday experiences, and it also has the effect of Bollywood and Hollywood movies to some extent.”