Go-Adventure Portal Launched, Key MoUs Signed to Boost Adventure Tourism in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Odisha took a major leap towards emerging as a leading adventure tourism destination in eastern India with the launch of the ‘Go-Adventure’ portal and the signing of two key Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on Tuesday. The initiatives were unveiled by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida at a programme held at Lok Seva Bhavan.

Along with the portal launch, the State Government signed MoUs with the Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) and the Aero Club of India (ACI) to strengthen safety standards, training systems and regulatory frameworks for adventure tourism activities across Odisha. The move is aimed at modernising the sector, enhancing visitor confidence and attracting fresh investments, particularly from young entrepreneurs.

Addressing the gathering, the Deputy Chief Minister underlined that safety will remain the cornerstone of Odisha’s adventure tourism expansion. She said the government is adopting international best practices and focusing on spiritual and experience-based tourism to create a distinctive tourism identity for the state. Appreciating the coordinated efforts of the Tourism, Sports and Home Departments, she called for collective action to establish Odisha as a world-class tourism destination.

Chief Secretary Anu Garg said the State Government is prioritising tourism development as part of its broader vision of achieving Utkarsh Odisha by 2036 and contributing to the national goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047. She urged all departments to integrate tourism promotion into their core functions and emphasised that adventure tourism has the potential to boost local economies, generate large-scale employment and attract private investment. She encouraged stakeholders to adopt the guiding mantra, “Think India, Think Odisha.”

Officials explained that the newly launched Go-Adventure portal will streamline registration, verification and licensing procedures for adventure tourism operators, improving ease of doing business while ensuring strict compliance with safety norms. The partnership with the Indian Mountaineering Foundation will focus on safety audits and specialised training for land-based adventure activities such as trekking, mountaineering and rock climbing. Meanwhile, the MoU with the Aero Club of India will help regulate aerial adventure sports, including paragliding and paramotoring, in line with national aviation safety standards.

To further support operators, ‘Licence to Operate’ (LTO) and ‘Recognition to Set Up’ (RTS) certificates were issued to domestic adventure tourism enterprises, and several operators were formally handed licences during the programme.

Former Union Minister and President of the Aero Club of India Rajiv Pratap Rudy attended the event, while Dr. Pawan Gupta of the National Institute of Water Sports, Goa, joined virtually. Among other dignitaries present were Director General of Fire Services and Home Guards Dr. Sudhanshu Sarangi, Tourism Commissioner-cum-Secretary Balwant Singh, Secretary Sports and Youth Services Bhupendra Singh Poonia, and Director Tourism Dipankar Mohapatra. Senior officials, technical experts and representatives of adventure tourism associations also participated in the programme.

The government said the initiative will significantly enhance safety standards, promote investment, generate employment and position Odisha as a premier adventure tourism hub, offering diverse and safe experiences to domestic and international travellers.