The State government is contemplating establishing an Academy of Adventure Sports at Gandikota village on the banks of river Pennar in Kadapa district. The Academy is being established to empower unemployed youth in taking up adventure sports /adventure tourism centres as career building. The government also aims attracting tourists apart from employment generation and promoting adventure sports.
The Tourism department is preparing a detailed project report (DPR). It has been estimated that ₹2.71 crore is required to create facilities like dormitory, training, administrative blocks, landscaping etc.
The Academy will establish three hubs at Kondapalli (Kethana konda) in Krishna district, Gandikota in Kadapa district and Thatipudi reservoir in Vizianagaram district. Infrastructural facilities exist at Kondapalli, says Secretary, Tourism, Mukesh Kumar Meena.
He told The Hindu, “Andhra Pradesh has every kind of terrain for adventure activities on land, water and sky. It has potential to offer unparalleled opportunities for promoting adventure sports and activities.” The government through the Academy would provide technical expertise, operation of adventure sports/activities, explore locations and promote them and tourism activities. It would also help in bringing in new investors and business opportunities.
Pay package
Mountaineering and trekking are considered more lucrative since they attract the maximum number of foreign tourists. An adventure sports instructor can expect a pay package starting at ₹9,000-10,000 per month. This can go up to ₹20,000-25,000 depending on what sport the instructor is dealing with, he said. An experienced professional can earn between ₹600-500 per day, he explains.
The Academy would be one of the best resources — fully equipped with technical equipment and skills, for utilising in emergency for disaster management.
The Academy would identify the areas of operation throughout the State. Sub-centres for various specialisations like camping, survival, rock climbing, aero & water (aqua) sports will be planned at remote corners of the State to attract local youth. Aero sports such as parasailing, power paragliding, artificial ice climbing etc were on cards. Tenzing Norgay award Sekhar Babu Bachupally will assist the proposed academy in promoting mountaineering etc adventure sports, he says.
