"Initially there was 30-35% custom duty on water sports and ski equipment. The government's move to give a complete waiver from customs duty would bring down our cost of operation by about 15%. This will definitely be passed on to tourists," Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI) president Tejvir Singh Anand said.

The tourism ministry was pitching for removal of import duty on adventure sports related equipment in the Union budget announced on Monday.

The ministry has also taken up the issue of opening more mountain peaks for trekking with the home ministry. Tourism minister Kumari Selja recently met the finance minister Pranab Mukherjee demanding several relief measures including removal of duty on sports equipment for the sector. The tourism ministry had, earlier, proposed to issue special mountaineering visa for foreign adventure tourists. Water and landbased adventure sports are fast becoming popular among tourists in the country.

Air-based sports such as para-sailing and paragliding are also gaining ground. Besides launching a scheme which would allow the companion of a tourist to fly free in collaboration with various airlines for foreign tourists, the tourism ministry tied up with hoteliers to provide tourists with additional stay in the country at low prices.