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State Convention Centre, Shillong
October 14, 2025 9:30 AM Onwards
OVERVIEW
The Government of India has laid high emphasis on 'Adventure Tourism' as an important and emerging tourism category. India is naturally well placed with regards to adventure tourism given its vast and varied topography. But adventure tourism needs to be developed properly and its potential has not been tapped much as of now.
Additionally, apart from infrastructure and product development, safety standards form an important aspect of adventure tourism. Operators across India, including in Meghalaya, need to be made aware of the safety protocols and critical aspects of the adventure tourism policy notified by the Government of India.
Indian Express Online Media, in association with Government of India, has organised 2 Editions of ‘Adventure Tourism Meet’ in Shillong & Dehradun. Distinguished guests, esteemed delegates, and participants came together for a day of insightful discussions, presentations and a workshop.
1st Edition was held on 4th October 2024 in Shillong, Meghalaya. Smt. Pravati Parida, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Tourism of Odisha attended as the Chief Guest and Bah Paul Lyngdoh, Hon’ble Minister of Tourism of Meghalaya attended as the Guest of Honour. Website Link of 1st Edition: https://www.financialexpress.com/events/adventure-tourism-meet-1st-edition
2nd Edition was held on 27th June 2025 in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. Shri Satpal Maharaj, Hon’ble Minister of Tourism of Uttarakhand as the Chief Guest. Website Link of 2nd Edition: https://www.financialexpress.com/events/adventure-tourism-meet-uttarakhand
The constructive work done by the Central Government & State Governments for the development of adventure tourism, must be highlighted & communicated to target audiences. Therefore, the 'Adventure Tourism Meet' is the need of the hour for the industry.
Guests
CHIEF GUESTMr. Conrad Kongkal Sangma
Hon'ble Chief Minister
Government of Meghalaya
GUEST OF HONOURMr. Timothy D. Shira
Hon’ble Tourism Minister
Government Of Meghalaya
GUEST OF HONOURMr. Marthon J. Sangma
Chairman, Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation
Speakers
Dr. Vijay Kumar D., IAS
The Commissioner and Secretary, Government of Meghalaya
Brenda Lee Pakyntein, MCS
The Director - Tourism, Government of Meghalaya
Toby Sinclair
Director, &Beyond
Raj Singh
Founder, Antara River Cruises
Akanksha Garg
Chairperson, ATOAI Women’s Collective (AWC) | Founder & Director, Waxpol Hotels & Resorts
Raj Basu
Convener, Association for Conservation & Tourism | Advisor To Several Governments in Northeast India
Altaf H. Chapri
Co-Founder and Managing Director, ABChapri Retreats | Director, Discovery Journeys India
Sujoy Das
Founder
South Col Expeditions
Dorjay Namgyal
Director,
Kailash Expeditions India
E. Banlumlang Blah
President, North East India Tourism Confederation (NEITC) and Tour Operators Association of Meghalaya (TOAM), State Incharge, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO)
Jnandip Borgohain
Founder & Programme Director, Kite Manja
Gerald S. Duia
Co-Chairman, North Eastern Region, Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI)
Dr. Pynshailang Syiemiong
President, Core Geo Expeditions
Febronia Effie Pajat
Owner,
Cabana Serene
AGENDA
Registration
Registration will start at 09:30 AMInaugural Session
- Welcome Note by, Mr. Roshun Povaiah, Editor, FinancialExpress.com
- Special Address by, Ms. Brenda Lee Pakyntein, MCS, The Director - Tourism, Government of Meghalaya
- Special Address by, Dr. Vijay Kumar D., IAS, The Commissioner and Secretary, Government of Meghalaya
- Speech by the Guest of Honor, Mr. Marthon J. Sangma, Chairman, Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation
- Speech by the Guest of Honor, Mr. Timothy D. Shira, Hon'ble Tourism Minister, Government of Meghalaya
- Speech by the Chief Guest, Mr. Conrad Kongkal Sangma, Hon'ble Chief Minister, Government of Meghalaya
- Thanking Note by Mr. Mukesh Singh - Sr. VP & Revenue Head, Indian Express Online Media
Cultural Performance
- Cultural Performance by Meghalaya-Based Folk Music Artists
Panel Discussion 1
Panel Discussion Theme: Beyond Borders: Positioning India as a Global Adventure Tourism Hub Panellists:- Mr. Toby Sinclair | Director, &Beyond
- Ms. Akanksha Garg | Chairperson, ATOAI Women’s Collective (AWC) | Founder & Director, Waxpol Hotels & Resorts
- Mr. Altaf H. Chapri | Co-Founder and Managing Director, ABChapri Retreats and Director, Discovery Journeys India
- Mr. Jnandip Borgohain | Founder & Programme Director, Kite Manja
- Moderated by Mr. Roshun Povaiah, Editor, FinancialExpress.com
Presentation 1
Presentation on Unlocking the Potential of River Cruise Tourism in India by Mr. Raj Singh | Founder, Antara River CruisesPanel Discussion 2
Panel Discussion Theme: The Meghalaya Advantage: Adventure in the Abode of Clouds Panellists:- Mr. E. Banlumlang Blah | President, North East India Tourism Confederation (NEITC) and Tour Operators Association of Meghalaya (TOAM) | State Incharge, Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO)
- Dr. Pynshailang Syiemiong | President, Core Geo Expeditions
- Ms. Febronia Effie Pajat, Owner, Cabana Serene
- Mr. Gerald Duia | Co-Chairman, North Eastern Region, Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI)
- Moderated by Mr. Raj Basu | Convener, Association for Conservation & Tourism | Advisor To Several Governments in Northeast India
Presentation 2
Presentation on Women in Adventure Tourism by Ms. Akanksha Garg | Chairperson, ATOAI Women’s Collective (AWC) | Founder & Director, Waxpol Hotels & ResortsLunch
Cultural Performance
Cultural Performance by Meghalaya-Based Folk Music ArtistsPresentation 3
'Mountain Moments: Photographs from the Himalaya' by Mr. Sujoy Das | Founder, South Col ExpeditionsPanel Discussion 3
Panel Discussion Theme: Thrill with a Conscience: Adventure Tourism for a Sustainable Future Panellists:- Mr. Raj Singh | Founder, Antara River Cruises
- Mr. Toby Sinclair | Director, &Beyond
- Mr. Dorjay Namgyal | Director, Kailash Expeditions India
- Mr. Raj Basu | Convener, Association for Conservation & Tourism | Advisor To Several Governments in Northeast India
- Moderated by Mr. Roshun Povaiah, Editor, FinancialExpress.com
Thanking Note
- Thanking Note by Mr. Mukesh Singh - Sr. VP & Revenue Head, Indian Express Online Media
Articles
Adventure Tourism Meet (ATM) 2025: Charting a sustainable and inclusive path for India’s adventure future
The Adventure Tourism Meet (ATM) 2025 held in Shillong brought together some of the most inspiring voices in India’s adventure travel industry for a day of powerful discussions, immersive presentations, and cultural showcases. Organised by FinancialExpress.com in partneship with Meghalaya Tourism, the event highlighted how adventure can drive sustainability, inclusivity, and regional growth.
Factoids
CONTACT US
- Sameer Saxena sameer.saxena@indianexpress.com +91 98101 38810
- Shailesh Srivastava shailesh.srivastava@indianexpress.com +91 97178 97556
- Pallaw Kumar pallaw.kumar@indianexpress.com +91 81308 89274
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