In a move aimed to boost adventure sports like high altitude mountaineering and trekking in the Himalayas and north-east region, the Union Home Ministry has given the green signal for the procurement, registration and use of satellite phones by the tour operators.
The Tourism Ministry has finalised a scheme for procurement, registration and use of satellite phones by the tour operators which has been concurred to by the Ministry of Home Affairs, said Union Minister of State for Tourism (Independent Charge), Mahesh Sharma in a written reply to the lok Sabha.
The move follows request from the Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) to the Ministry of Tourism seeking lifting of the ban on use of satellite phones for tourism purposes.
“lack of communication facilities has affected some adventure sports like high altitude mountaineering, trekking etc. The various adventure sports available in India are mountaineering, trekking, river rafting, parasailing, paragliding, bungee jumping etc,” he said.
Moreover, the need for the satellite phone facility was being felt following deaths in accidents and life-threatening situations because of the lack of communication.Till now, Thuraya satellite phone service was not allowed in the country for security concerns.