Arunachal Pradesh hosts National Adventure Racing Championship to promote border tourism

Highlights remote region connectivity through national and international participation

This event is positioned as ‘India’s First Border Adventure Race: Arunachal Pradesh Tourism

In collaboration with Arunachal Pradesh Tourism, Bengaluru-based outdoor sports and adventure racing company NthAdventure hosted the third edition of the National Adventure Racing Championship to promote tourism in the state’s border regions.

In a press statement, Arunachal Pradesh Tourism says that this year’s edition included participants from 12 Indian states and three international teams from Malaysia, Nepal and South Africa.

It adds that the event, held in the Mechukha Valley, covered 150 km of terrain near the Line of Actual Control, located approximately 29 km north of the venue. Participants undertook activities including trail running, hiking, kayaking, river crossing, mountain biking, rope work and navigation.

Arunachal Pradesh Tourism says that the Department of Tourism and NthAdventure coordinated the logistics for arriving teams from Dibrugarh Airport. En route to Mechukha, teams stayed in local homestays in Aalo and Basar. Many participants were visiting the region for the first time.

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According to the statement, the itinerary featured a team photoshoot, captains’ meet, race kit handover, and a flag parade. The short-course race introduced teams to local landscapes and tribal communities through a condensed route, while the full-course race functioned as a qualifier for the upcoming Asian Championship.

Arunachal Pradesh Tourism says that the event, positioned as ‘India’s First Border Adventure Race’, is part of the Adventure Racing World Series (ARWS), Asia Series. Held annually, the National Adventure Racing Championship also serves as a qualifier for the ARWS Asia Championship, which is scheduled to be held in Malaysia in October this year. Being part of the ARWS offers participating teams global visibility and opportunities to compete in races across different countries.

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The statement adds that the state’s tourism sector recorded significant growth in 2023, with foreign tourist arrivals rising by 300 pc to 4,496 visitors, and domestic footfall increasing by 368.91 pc to 1.04 million compared to the previous year.

Pasang Dorjee Sona

“Arunachal Pradesh is well positioned to emerge as a leading adventure tourism destination in the world. We want to showcase the potential in adventure tourism vested in our state through events like National Adventure Racing Championship. We plan to organise this event in a much bigger way next year,” says Pasang Dorjee Sona, Tourism Minister, Arunachal Pradesh.