Paragliding over Lake Pokhara Feva
According to the latest news from the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, the much-anticipated Nepal Pokhara International Airport will officially start operations on January 1, 2023.
With the news, many Pokhara tourism companies are worried that the project will close paragliding, because the current paragliding flight is located in the airspace of the new airport, and paragliding plays a pivotal role in Pokhara's tourism industry.
Pokhara has one of the top three paragliding venues in the world. Paragliders from all over the world want to take a trip to the sky. The Pokhara Valley is 800 meters above sea level, while the Northern Annapurna Mountains are 7000-8000 meters above sea level. When you go up through the clouds and see the snow-capped mountains, you will know that in terms of "appearance", this place is well deserved. In terms of gliding experience, the climate is mild and the wind direction is stable, whether it is a novice experience of smooth flight or a veteran flight that does various crazy aerobatic effects, it can be satisfied. There are hundreds of coaches waiting to serve you in the paragliding clubs everywhere.
Tourism business operators in Pokhara, nepal's tourism capital, have therefore asked the authorities to ensure the continuity of paragliding services even after the new airport has been operated.
Binesh Munakarmi, head of the new airport project, said all aviation activity in the Sarankot region should stop as soon as the new airport is operational. "We can't be sure that every plane will land at the airport right away," he said, "and some of them may need to hover in the air, and Sarankot is where we want to circling." ”
Pokhara International Airport is a key project of China-Nepal "Belt and Road" cooperation and a "national pride project" of Nepal.
Pokhara International Airport
Jaganat, a spokesman for Nepal's Civil Aviation Authority, said the Rs 22 billion Pokhara International Airport project had been 98 per cent of construction work completed so far. Calibration flights at the airport will take place in October this year.
Pokhara International Airport covers an area of more than 200 hectares and will greatly facilitate the travel of domestic and foreign tourists to and from Nepal when put into operation.
However, Pokhara Tourism Business said the government needs to find another option by January next year so that paragliding can continue in the city.
"We didn't want to move the paraglider anywhere. We need to explore how it fits into the airport. Sunil Bahadur Bhattarai, president of the Nepal Aviation Sports Association (NAA), said.
The airport's ability to bring Pokhara a large number of tourists, but contrary to the booming air sports in the local area, what to do is indeed a question worthy of consideration by the authorities.