Draft:Vaibhav Kala

{{Short description|Mountaneering and adventure tourism pioneer in Himalayan India}}

{{AFC submission|d|ai|u=Rohanvyavaharkar|ns=118|decliner=Jlwoodwa|declinets=20250421070833|ts=20250421070421}}

Vaibhav Kala is an Indian adventure tourism hotelier, entrepreneur, and environmental advocate. Having worked in the space of adventure tourism since the early 1990s, Kala has played a key role in opening up parts of Himalayan India to the sector{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/11/travel/where-the-earth-meets-the-sky.html|title=Where the Earth Meets The Sky|first=Marcia R.|last=Lieberman|work=The New York Times |date=February 11, 2001|via=NYTimes.com}}. He has also contributed significantly to the growth of responsible and sustainable outdoor travel in India, and runs Atali Ganga.{{Cite web|url=https://ataliganga.com/about-us/|title=Atali Ganga - Award Winning Activotel in Rishikesh}}, a sustainable adventure lodge that is focused on community development, nature conservation, and outdoor recreation.

In 2024, he was also appointed the Senior Vice President of the [https://www.atoai.org/ Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI)], an industry body that represents about 15,000 businesses across the country with a combined revenue of $47 million. He has also served as the association's acting president briefly. {{Cite web|url=https://travel.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/associations/vishwas-makhija-steps-down-as-atoai-president-vaibhav-kala-is-officiating-president/89605863|title=Vishwas Makhija steps down as ATOAI president, Vaibhav Kala is officiating president - ET TravelWorld|website=ETTravelWorld.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.traveltrendstoday.in/atoai-elections-2024-ajeet-bajaj-re-elected-as-president-vaibhav-kala-is-the-sr-vp-arshdeep-anand-named-vp/|title=ATOAI Elections 2024: Ajeet Bajaj re-elected as President; Vaibhav Kala is the Sr. VP; Arshdeep Anand named VP | Travel Trends Today|first=Gagneet|last=Kaur|date=September 16, 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/life/lifestyle-adventure-tourism-reaching-for-the-skies-3667090/|title=Adventure tourism reaching for the skies|date=November 17, 2024}} In this role, he and his team have worked with state and central governments on access management, risk mitigation, and policy formulation.

Early life and education

Kala hails from the state of Uttarakhand. His father is Army Colonel Pradeep Kala and his mother is Usha Kala. He has grown up in various places across India including Lucknow, Jammu, Delhi, and Chennai.

Career in Adventure Tourism

Kala began guiding river and mountain expeditions in 1992. He has played a key role in opening numerous Himalayan rivers to commercial rafting and kayaking, including the Tons, Siang (Upper Brahmaputra), Pindar, and the Sutlej{{Cite web |date=2 July 2012 |title=Vaibhav Kala: Appetite for Risk - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/education/news/appetite-for-risk/articleshow/14580227.cms |work=The Times of India}}. He was also instrumental in opening up trekking routes like Auden’s Col and Parang La{{Cite web |date=31 May 2018 |title=The mountains are humbling: Vaibhav Kala - India Today |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/supplement/story/20180611-the-mountains-are-humbling-vaibhav-kala-1248080-2018-05-31}}.

His company, Aquaterra Adventures, was the only Indian firm named to National Geographic Adventure’s list of the “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth” in 2008 and 2009{{Cite web |date=October 2024 |title=Study Highlights Adventure Travel's Role in Enhancing Introspection and Clarity of CEOs |url=https://www.outlooktraveller.com/experiences/adventure/study-highlights-adventure-travels-role-in-enhancing-ceos-introspection-and-clarity}}.[https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:National_Georaphic_Adventure_2009_Ratings_-_Best_Adventure_Travel_Companies_for_Aquaterra_Adventures_(Without_URL).jpg ]

Focus on Policy and Safety Standards

Kala is a vocal advocate of improving safety guidelines and standards for adventure sports in India{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/tragic-incident-in-pune-districts-bhor-taluka-how-safe-are-adventure-sports-clubs-authorities-point-to-a-host-of-factors/articleshow/120496583.cms|title=Tragic incident in Pune district's Bhor taluka: How safe are adventure sports? Clubs & authorities point to a host of factors|work=The Times of India |date=April 22, 2025|via=The Economic Times - The Times of India}} as well as for more responsible tourism, especially by local tourists.{{Cite web|url=https://www.outdoorjournal.com/mass-trekking-india-disease-well-suffer/|title=Mass Trekking in India: A Disease For Which We'll All Suffer|date=September 4, 2018|website=The Outdoor Journal}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cntraveller.in/story/how-to-save-the-himalayas-from-our-misadventures/|title=How to save the Himalayas from our misadventures|first=Vaibhav|last=Kala|date=September 13, 2021|website=Condé Nast Traveller India}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/lifestyle/travel/story/from-paragliding-to-bungee-jumping-how-safe-are-extreme-sports-in-india-2669722-2025-01-25|title=From paragliding to bungee jumping: How safe are extreme sports in India?|date=January 25, 2025|website=India Today}}

He contributed to the formation of India’s first National Strategy for Adventure Tourism, which led to the establishment of the National Board for Adventure Tourism{{Cite web|url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1988326|title=Press Release:Press Information Bureau}} in 2022. He also participated in the Second G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting in 2023{{Cite web|url=https://static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2023/mar/doc2023322175301.pdf|title=G20 Summit Circular New Content 5th November 2022}} which focused, in some part on driving adventure tourism in India.

More recently, he also was speaker at the All India Tourism Ministers meet in Dharamsala talking about the need to have standards and reduce accident rates in India.https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqklwjGvQfSt_Y5fhuvvf1AdRkpmo5itHYuMVg0/?igsh=MWswbG5pc2QwM2cweQ%3D%3D

Along with other members of the [https://www.atoai.org/ Adventure Tours Operators of India (ATOI)], Kala has been working with the Indian government to arrive at guidelines for adventure tourism in the country.

Social Impact and Sustainability

Kala founded the Aquaterra Charity Trust (ACT) in 2010, following flash floods in Ladakh. The Trust supports communities in Himalayan regions through digital literacy, education, disaster relief, and vocational training. In 2013, he launched the Himalayan Adventure Challenge, a multi-sport race aimed at reviving tourism in flood-hit Uttarakhand.

In 2023, Kala partnered with the Thunderdragon Trust USA to start the [https://himalayaneducation.org/community-livelihood/outdoor-education-program/ Himalayan Outdoor Education Project], offering outdoor education opportunities to youth in underserved valleys. In 2025, he launched Treks for All{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/htcity/trips-tours/adventure-for-everyone-making-treks-accessible-101744282695895.html|title=Adventure for everyone: Making treks accessible}}, an initiative to make the outdoors accessible to differently-abled participants.

The same year, Aquaterra Adventures launched the [https://hacrace.com/ Himalayan Adventure Challenge], a multi-discipline adventure race that also promotes sustainable tourism.{{Cite web|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/other-sports/himalayan-adventure-challenge-a-game-of-limbs-and-lungs/article38352137.ece|title=Himalayan Adventure Challenge: A Game of Limbs and Lungs|first=Arvind|last=Subramanian|date=January 31, 2022|website=Sportstar}}

Recognition and awards

National Geographic Adventure’s “Best Adventure Travel Companies on Earth” (2008, 2009){{Cite web |title=Appetite For Risk - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/education/news/appetite-for-risk/articleshow/14711517.cms}}
Adventure Tour Operators Association of India Hall of Fame Award (2013){{Cite web|url=https://www.atoai.org/honors-awards|title=ATOAI - Adventure Tour Operators Association of India|first1=ATOAI-Adventure Tour Operators Association of|last1=India|first2=ATOAI-Adventure Tour Operators Association of|last2=India|website=ATOAI - Adventure Tour Operators Association of India}}
2017 Silver Winner, Best Responsible Tourism Property in Uttarakhand, India by [https://responsibletourismpartnership.org/ Responsible Tourism]{{Cite web|url=https://responsibletourismpartnership.org/rt-award-winners-in-india/rt-awards-uttarakhand/#:~:text=The+Aqua+Terra+Alternative+Lifestyle,by+behaviour,+dress+or+conduct.|title=RT Awards Uttarakhand - Responsible Tourism Partnership|website=responsibletourismpartnership.org}}

Expeditions and notable achievements

First descents: Subansiri (1994), Lohit (1994), Siang (2002)
Remote peaks: Gya (6794m), Bhartekunta (21,707 ft), Bhetiara Ka Danda (19,000 ft)
Organiser of treks for corporate leaders, including Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran{{Cite web|url=https://epaper.livemint.com/Home/ShareArticle?OrgId=2648cf0617f&imageview=0|title=Vaibhav KalaTHE OUTDOORS MAN|website=http://epaper.livemint.com/}}

Internationally, Kala has expeditioned on the Yangtze (China), Karnali (Nepal), Zambezi (Africa), Colorado (USA), Futaleufú (Chile), and Ahansel (Morocco).

Media coverage

Kala’s work has been profiled in publications such as [https://time.com/archive/6938302/travel-industry-wooing-tourists-from-india/ Time Magazine,]{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/archive/6938302/travel-industry-wooing-tourists-from-india/|title=Travel Industry Wooing Tourists from India|first=Madhur|last=Singh|date=May 19, 2010|magazine=TIME}} [https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/02/travel/riding-the-wild-brahmaputra.html The New York Times]{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/02/travel/riding-the-wild-brahmaputra.html|title=RIDING THE WILD BRAHMAPUTRA|first=Ranjan|last=Pal|work=The New York Times |date=March 2, 2003|via=NYTimes.com}}, CNN Asia, [https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/supplement/story/20180611-the-mountains-are-humbling-vaibhav-kala-1248080-2018-05-31 India Today]{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/supplement/story/20180611-the-mountains-are-humbling-vaibhav-kala-1248080-2018-05-31|title=The mountains are humbling: Vaibhav Kala|date=May 31, 2018|website=India Today}}, [https://www.responsibletourismindia.com/inspire-me/an-adventurer-who-turned-his-passion-into-his-profession/249 Outlook Traveller], [https://www.cntraveller.in/story/how-to-save-the-himalayas-from-our-misadventures/ Condé Nast Traveller], and [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/education/news/appetite-for-risk/articleshow/14580227.cms Times of India].