Tourism board approves mandatory CPR training for all guides

Dehradun: In the 24th board meeting of Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board on Tuesday, approval was given for 20 agendas, which includes mandatory CPR training for all guides, especially river rafting guides, and nod for a total of 18 adventure sports activities in financial year 2026-27.Approval was granted to prepare Destination Plans through expert consultants for the holistic and planned development of spiritual tourism sites -- Triyuginarayan Temple, Kartik Swami Temple and Kainchi Dham. A consultant will be appointed to prepare comprehensive plans for the above sites along with other spiritual tourism areas.Comprehensive amendments to River Rafting/Kayaking Rules 2014 were approved for guide eligibility, licence renewal, mandatory safety equipment (Type-V life jackets, helmets), age limit, penal provisions concerning accidents and misconduct, and licence suspension/ cancellation were approved, to strengthen tourist safety in the state’s rivers.Under the Trekking-Traction Home-Stay grant enhancement, the new construction grant increased from Rs 60,000 to Rs 1 lakh per unit. Room repair grant increased from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000. Besides, community centres would be constructed on 10-15 major trekking routes.Training programmes for a total of 3,121 participants were approved to develop local youth as world-class Adventure Tourism Professionals. These include mountaineering, skiing, wilderness first aid, high altitude mountaineering guide course, water skiing, white water kayaking, river rafting, behavioural skill development and paragliding training.

A number of international events -- ATOAI National Convention (Kausani), Global Food Festival, Uttarakhand International Tourism Conclave (Dehradun, Nov 2026) and International River Rafting Festival (Tons river) -- were approved in the board meeting.Tourism minister Satpal Maharaj said, “Uttarakhand is a unique confluence of nature, spirituality and adventure activities. The decisions taken in the board meeting are important steps towards establishing Uttarakhand as one of the world’s leading adventure tourism destinations.”