Dehradun, Dec 24 : The Uttarakhand government has decided to allow only technically skilled and certified guides to operate rafting activities in the state’s rivers, making first-aid and CPR training mandatory as part of enhanced safety measures for adventure tourism.
Under the new policy, rafting guides operating on the Ganga and other rivers in Uttarakhand will be required to undergo skill development training along with a three-day first-aid and CPR programme before being permitted to work in future.
According to officials, the training aims to ensure that rafting guides are capable of providing immediate medical assistance to tourists in case of accidents or emergencies. Guides will also be required to obtain technical certification from authorised agencies prior to formal engagement.
The decision was taken by the state Tourism Department following demands raised by the rafting association. State Tourism Secretary Dhiraj Garbyal confirmed the move, stating that mandatory first-aid training and skill upgradation for rafting guides has been approved. He added that while no final decision has been taken yet, a broad consensus has emerged to increase the maximum working age of rafting guides from the current 50 years to 60 years.
Garbyal said the consensus was reached during a meeting with representatives of the rafting association held on Tuesday. As part of the plan, 900 rafting guides across the state will be trained to enhance their technical proficiency in first-aid and CPR.
The training programme will be conducted by the Hanifl Centre, USA, and is scheduled to begin in the first week of January 2026, a senior tourism department official said.
During the meeting, the rafting association also raised several other issues related to safety and infrastructure. These included permission for setting up rafting camps along riverbanks, reassessment of the carrying capacity of the Ganga, improvement of rafting pick-up points from main roads, and the provision of ambulances to ensure tourist safety.
Officials said the state government is examining these demands as part of its broader effort to strengthen safety standards and promote sustainable adventure tourism in Uttarakhand.