Hyderabad: 01st October, 2026: Renowned mountaineer, Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award recipient and adventure tourism professional Mr. Shekhar Babu Bachinepally has been nominated as the Chairman of the Southern Chapter of the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI).
Focus to be placed on safety, professional standards, responsible tourism and strengthening the adventure tourism ecosystem across Southern India
ATOAI is the national representative body of adventure tour operators in India and has been working to promote safe, responsible and sustainable adventure tourism through industry standards, training, capacity building, policy advocacy and coordination with Central and State Governments.
Mr. Shekhar Babu is also an elected member of the ATOAI Executive Committee, representing Transcend Adventures. His nomination as Southern Chapter Chairman recognises his extensive experience in mountaineering, adventure tourism development, safety leadership, professional training and empowerment.
Mr. Shekhar Babu reached the summit of Mount Everest in 2007. During more than two decades in the adventure sector, he has led and supported several Indian and international mountaineering expeditions and has played an important role in creating opportunities in adventure and had played major role in promoting adventure especially mountaineering from underprivileged and marginalised backgrounds.
He served as the mentor and expedition leader for Poorna Malavath, who created history in 2014 as the youngest girl in the world at the time to summit Mount Everest, whose achievement also inspired students across the country and has changed the perception of adventure in south India. He is the founder of Transcend Adventures and also serves as a Board Director of the Adventure Sports Academy.
As Chairman of the Southern Chapter, Mr. Shekhar Babu will work towards strengthening coordination among adventure tour operators, government departments, and other stakeholders across Southern India. The Chapter will focus on implementation of safety standards, qualified manpower, responsible destination development, environmental sustainability and wider employment and enterprising opportunities.
Special attention will also be given to supporting the State Governments in developing practical adventure tourism guidelines, emergency-response mechanisms and sustainable destinations.
Responding to the nomination, Mr. Shekhar Babu said: “Safety in adventure tourism will be given the highest priority. Adventure activities involve inherent risks, but these risks must be identified, assessed and professionally managed. Qualified instructors, certified equipment, documented operating procedures, medical preparedness and effective rescue systems must become standard practice across the sector. A strong culture of safety will protect participants and build long-term confidence in Southern India as a responsible adventure tourism destination.”
