Making adventure travel accessible to everyone: The story of Himalayan Weekenders

In the last few years, India has seen a spike in the number of people opting for adventure travel. This has led to the setting up of various companies that are competing against each other to create a name in a market which is still expanding at a rapid rate.

The love for travelling and the spirit of entrepreneurship has motivated a lot of people to jump into this sector. We talk to Sanjay Kumar Jha, the founder of one such company in Delhi – Himalayan Weekenders and try to understand the various aspects of being an entrepreneur in the highly-competitive travel industry.

Here are the highlights of the interview:

• What is the vision behind starting Himalayan Weekenders?
• Himalayan Weekenders is an initiative for adventure seekers from all age groups which offers exciting avenues at a friendly budget. Be it trekking, camping, or any adventure sport, we make sure that it is available to everybody without burning a hole in their pockets. Our primary goal is to make adventure accessible to all.
• Why do you think there is a need to promote adventure sports among students?
• Any education system must focus on the all-round development of students. Students must travel and participate in various adventure sports, which not only gives them a new experience but also adds a new facet to their personality. They learn a lot about themselves which helps them in their future endeavours.
• What are your thoughts about the pressure on the environment because of the growing travel industry?
• Our environment is deteriorating due to pressures of development of which travel industry is also a part. Vehicles running on diesel, blatant use of plastic in various forms, deforestation etc. are major causes of it. Global warming added with lack of awareness amongst travellers only makes the situation worse. We want to do our bit to make travel sustainable and eco-friendly. Thus, we organize plastic collection drives during treks and creates awareness about the environment in general and Himalayan eco-system in particular.
• Any advice for other entrepreneurs
• Entrepreneurship should be understood in a context wherein it brings about a positive change at various levels. At a personal level, it should be driven by passion towards a perceived goal. At a broader level, it should not only have an impact on people associated but on market structure and work environment as well. Depending upon the market that he/she is operating, an entrepreneur must strategize with an aim to optimally utilize resources at his/her disposal. An entrepreneur must adapt to the ever-changing marketplace scenario and should be able to make quick decisions and act forthrightly.