Since the paragliding company has started flying at cheaper rates, more than two hundred adventurous sportspersons have started flying in the sky every day. Cheap programs have been brought to fly in the sky for those who are deprived of entertainment and other activities due to the long shutdown.
The companies had started commercial flights on October 1 after the long-term shutdown was lifted. Chairman of the Nepal Air Sports Association, Krishna Bhandari, informed that the non-profit flights have been continued to make the tourist activities run by the domestic tourists in the absence of foreign tourist arrivals. He said, “We have only tried to convey the message that there has been tourism activity, so we are paragliding even if it is a loss.” At present, around 100 domestic tourists fly to Pokhara and surrounding areas daily. ” He said that despite the current tourist season, the corona has been stalled and domestic flights have been emphasized through cheap programs.
He said that the bustle of domestic tourists has raised hopes for commercial flights. According to him, flights have been operated at a concessional rate of Rs 3,000. Earlier it was Rs 7,500. Bhandari said that considering the high risk of the corona, monitoring the paragliding company along with health vigilance and ‘safety and security’.
Madhav Tiwari, director and pilot of Himalayan Sky Adventure Paragliding Company, said that young people between the ages of 15 and 35 are now more interested in flying. He said that especially college students, employees, businessmen and even families come for the flight. According to Tiwari, secretary of the Nepal Air Sports Association, 80 to 20 percent of Kaski’s passengers come from districts around Pokhara. Earlier, there were about 500 daily flights, but now only 200 tourists are flying daily, he said.
There are 338 paragliding pilots in Pokhara, including 12 women. Before the shutdown, there were 10-12 foreign para pilots in the area, but now there are only Nepalis. There are 60 paragliding companies in Pokhara. There is an investment of around Rs one billion in this sector.
