Measure to continue Pokhara’s paragliding to be explored: Minister Shrestha

KASKI: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Jeevan Ram Shrestha, has said measures to continue the paragliding business of Pokhara would be explored to ensure that it continues even after the operation of Pokhara International Airport.

At a news conference organized by Socialist Press Organisation at Pokhara on Wednesday, Minister Shrestha said that initiatives would be taken to continue the paragliding business, which has become the brand of Pokhara. “Tourism entrepreneurs have demanded protection of paragliding.

But there should be no compromise in air safety. We are working to continue the paragliding business without compromising air safety by adopting any measure required,” he said.

The Tourism Minister further said that Pokhara International Airport would be brought into operation from 2023.

Around 98 percent of construction work of the Airport has been completed so far and the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has taken a decision to bring the airport into operation from January 1, 2023.

Minister Shrestha shared that the government was planning to establish a college of Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management (NATHM) in all seven provinces within a year to start with from Gandaki, Lumbini and the Madhesh States.