Paragliding reaches new heights in Pokhara

Seven more paragliding companies in Pokhara have been given operating licenses in the last one year as a testimony to the fast rising popularity of the adventure sport.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN), there are now 17 paragliding companies operating in Pokhara. CAAN charges US$ 1,280 (excluding taxes) to issue an Air Operators Certificate and US$ 56.50 per flier as flight permission fee. The permit is valid for 15 days.

CAAN said that one company is allowed to operate six-seven flights per day depending on the weather. The route Sarangkot-Toripani-Dhikikhola has been fixed for paragliding.

“More than 90 flights are conducted on the Sarangkot-Toripani-Dhikikhola route daily, and it can accommodate a few more flights,” said CAAN director Madhav Prasad Dahal.

“However, we need to think of alternative routes if more companies apply for an operating license.” According to him, CAAN has the authority to shift paragliding companies to other areas if the space becomes congested.

The popular season for this adventure sport among thrill seekers is September-November. However, operators said that paragliding was becoming popular as an all-season activity among visitors. They added that the sport has been attracting Nepali fun seekers too of late. A paragliding company handles 2,500-3,000 fliers annually, and 60 percent of them are foreign visitors.

“Paragliding is not limited to certain seasons these days, and almost all the paragliding companies have year-round bookings,” said Samjhana Thapa, sales executive of Sarangkot Paragliding. “Unlike in the past, customers nowadays have to make pre-bookings,” she added. She said that all the hotels and tour operators include paragliding in their packages.

Aerial sports began in Nepal in 1996 with Sunrise Balloon and Avia Club offering hot air ballooning and ultra light flying respectively. Paragliding started to take off in 2007.

According to travel trade entrepreneurs, Nepal has tremendous potential in adventure tourism with paragliding being identified as one of the fastest growing segments. Nepali paragliders are charged Rs 5,000 for a 30-minute flight while the price for foreign tourists is US$ 100.

As paragliding is a relatively new adventure sport in Nepal, tour operators said that there was little information about it in tourist guidebooks. Paragliding in Pokhara involves flying over villages, lakes and jungles.

source: The Kathmandu Post,11 August 2012