In a conversation with FinancialExpress.com at the Adventure Tourism Meet 2025 in Shillong, Toby Sinclair, Director at &Beyond, shared insights from his remarkable 50-year journey through India’s wilderness and cultural landscapes. Having lived in India for most of his life, Sinclair has been deeply involved in adventure, experiential, wildlife, and cultural tourism.
Recalling his past visits to Meghalaya, including filming for a BBC Planet Earth episode, he praised the state’s raw natural beauty and the enthusiasm of its people. “One of the takeaways from this event was the participation of young students—from hospitality, catering, and adventure institutions—coming together to understand the needs and responsibilities of adventure tourism,” he said.
Speaking on the future of the sector, Sinclair emphasized the urgent need for responsible growth. “India has phenomenal opportunities for adventure tourism, but uncontrolled development could destroy the very product we’re trying to promote. It’s our responsibility to create and follow guidelines for sustainable adventure tourism,” he said.
Sinclair expressed hope that platforms like the Adventure Tourism Meet in Shillong would pave the way for more awareness, collaboration, and stronger sustainability practices across the country.