What makes Meghalaya a unique destination for adventure tourism compared to other places in India? What are some of its major adventure tourism offerings?

Adventure destinations between each other are just about two hours apart. We have the cleanest river where no activities can be done, the USP being fresh water Scuba Diving at Shnongpdeng, Dawki. We also have the longest cave system measuring 32+ km and going in the Jaintia hills. The major offerings are Bungy Jumping, Zipline, Scuba Diving and Caving. Besides these there are Kayaking, Cliff Jumping and Trekking. 

Can you tell us about the inspiration behind starting your adventure tour operations?

After travelling into the interiors of Meghalaya for a number of years, we realised the potential our state has to offer. But we realised we needed to have a USP where we decided on promoting Scuba Diving and Camping in the initial years. Also at that time there were not many companies promoting Xtreme Adventure tourism as a business.

Meghalaya is known for its caves, waterfalls, and trekking trails. Which adventure activities do you specialize in?

We specialize in Scuba Diving, Bungy Jumping, Zip Line, Kayaking, Cliff Jumping, Snorkeling, Paddle Boarding, Rappelling/Rock Climbing and Overnight Camping.

How do you see adventure tourism evolving in Meghalaya in the next 5-10 years?

More youth need to get involved and understand that adventure tourism can be done as a business. A lot of care needs to be taken of our Environment. If immediate attention is not taken, then the future looks bleak. A number of issues within the state relating to tourism need to be discussed between the Government and stakeholders for the benefit of tourism.

Can you share an experience or story of a memorable adventure trip you organized for tourists?

Hosting Shikhar Dhawan in 2014 was great because our setup was basic camping, and he told me that he would decide to stay overnight only when he reached the site as he had a four-year-old son. Fortunately, our area being fresh, clean with pristine clear water, he just set foot on the beach and said ”Jason, done” so he spent the night and ate two kgs of barbecued fish directly from the river. But Shikhar being Shikhar, next morning he was back at training close by.

How do you ensure the safety of tourists, especially in high-risk adventure activities like caving and rock climbing?

Assessing the area before the activity, making sure guides are certified with a couple of years’ experience, daily mandatory checks on equipment and Two of Everything.

Adventure tourism often interacts with fragile ecosystems. What steps do you take to promote eco-friendly and sustainable tourism?

We take a lot of advice from the forest and soil departments ensuring the environment is not affected. Also, in Meghalaya land belongs to the people, so the village committee decides on which area is feasible for operation. We ensure trees are not cut no matter what. If there’s any deviation from our plan we have to get the village’s permission.

How do you work with local communities to promote responsible tourism?

With the support of the Government a number of awareness camps have been organised to promote responsible tourism. Our motto is: Collaborate with local partners, Respect local culture, Buy local products, Consult stakeholders, Invest in local communities.

What are the biggest challenges you face in promoting adventure tourism in Meghalaya?

The requirement of the Airport is a need of the hour. Direct connectivity with the metro cities will change things overnight. Continuous marketing to the rest of the country is a big and expensive issue. Although we take part in a number of tourism fairs we need to have more adventure fairs and road shows in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Bangalore and Tamil Nadu as these are major clients for adventure in Meghalaya. Governments need to understand the serious promoters of adventure in Meghalaya and promote them aggressively. 

What new activities or tours are you planning to introduce in the near future?

We are surveying two major waterfalls and one massive rock for the potential of rappelling for the hardcore adventure seekers.

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