Expanding its Pan-India presence and footprints in the Northeast region of the country, the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India has announced the appointment of a new Chapter Chairman for the Northeastern states (excluding Sikkim and West Bengal). Oken Tayeng, Managing Director, Aborcountry Travels & Expeditions, Arunachal Pradesh will be the new Chairman.

Revealing details, Vinayak Koul, Honorary Secretary, ATOAI said, “We are very confident that under Mr Tayeng’s able leadership, ATOAI will be able to have a strong presence with the tourism fraternity in the Northeast. One of the main tasks of the association is to increase its footprint in this potent area for adventure travel while at the same time being cognizant of the fact that a safe and sustainable model is adopted by the practitioners.

“The upskilling of the growing network of members, learning the best practices, and creating new business opportunities are some of the tasks cut out for the chapter,” Koul further stated.

Sharing his views on the appointment in conversation with ET TravelWorld, Tayeng mentioned that he is humbled and excited at the same time to have been given the responsibility to lead the Chapter. “It is highly imperative that all adventure tourism activities in the region for its own good are conducted within alignment to ATOAI with its tenets of good practice, sustainability and safety standards. Having been on the field for the past 20 years across the region, I have gained a very strong and intimate connection with people from the tourism fraternity and otherwise across the region. It will be my endeavor to bring ATOAI to the fore in the Northeast and give the region the right kind of tourism it deserves- low impact, high value and sustainable,” he said.

Tayeng further explained that it is very important that the tourism activities in the region are conducted in the most sustainable, eco-friendly and regulated manner. “Otherwise, this region will fall prey to irresponsible tourism, as many other places in India have suffered in the past due to wrongly exposed and exploited practices, hence losing its value and allure. Post Covid with the expected post pandemic boom in the tourism sector, The Northeast region will be where everyone will be headed for tourism as the region is emerging as the new sought-after destination for both domestic and international travellers,” he concluded.