GUWAHATI: From the thrills of white water rafting and para sailing to fun-filled traditional games, adventure lovers have an action-packed treat up for grabs this week.
Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship here is organising a four-day North East Adventure Tourism Adventure Tourism Festival (NEATOFEST 2018) at Bogamati in Baksa district of lower Assam from Thursday.
The North Eastern Council (NEC), Shillong, Bodoland Territorial Council, Assam Tourism Development Corporation, Bodoland Tourism, Directorate of Sports and Youth Welfare, Assam and India Tourism is organising the festival.
Addressing the media here, IIE director, Abhijit Sharma said the festival was the outcome of the IIE Business Incubation Centre on Adventure Tourism.
“Adventure is part of the DNA of the youth in this part of the region and it combines well with culture and lifestyle. There is immense scope and potential to promote enterprises around this sector. IIE has their expertise and business models to popularise this sector among the general public and adventure enthusiasts,” Sharma said.
Bogamati is located in Bodoland Territorial Areas District (BTAD).
He also said the adventure tourism festival would help in establishing Bogamati as a new summer destination and bring about a change in the socio-economic condition of the locality. “Unemployed youths of BTAD area can also take this up as a business venture,” Sharma said.
IIE has added a value added aspect to tourism by introducing adventure activities, trainings to 200 youths across North East since 2016 to start their own enterprises.
“By organising the festival, IIE seeks to motivate and give the upcoming entrepreneurs of the sector a platform to showcase their expertise and business models. It also wants to popularise the sector among the general public as well as the adventure enthusiasts,” he said.
Activities such as white water rafting, hiking, cycling, all terrain vehicle riding, zip-lining, kayaking, parasailing, paragliding, paramotor, trail run, wall climbing, obstacle race, rope activities besides traditional games, seminars and workshops on adventure tourism are the attractions for visitors to the fest.
The concept of home stays and rural tourism will also be promoted during the four-day extravaganza.