Nepal Air Sports Association (NAA) has completed its 23rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) and 11th Convention in Pokhara, gathering representatives and stakeholders from the air sports and paragliding sector of Nepal. The meeting reviewed the present situation of paragliding, its prospects, safety requirements, and the need for coordination between the sector stakeholders and aviation bodies.
The convention held as paragliding is an important component of Pokhara’s adventure tourism. The meeting also offered an opportunity to review the challenges facing paragliding as commercial aviation grew out of Pokhara International Airport.
Stakeholders stressed the need to balance the growth of international air services, which have become attached to the local paragliding activity. The meeting highlighted the importance of management, regulation, and safety for the continuation of the activity.
Stakeholders Discuss Paragliding’s Role In Pokhara Tourism
Speaking on the occasion, Pokhara Metropolitan City Mayor Dhan Raj Acharya remarked that paragliding has become an important part of Pokhara’s identity and tourism foundation. He stressed the need for continued attention to the activity to ensure both its safety and continuity as international flights from Pokhara continue to grow.
Mayor Acharya said there should be an arrangement under which international flights and paragliding can operate together, not one way. He also referred to the Pokhara Dubai flight schedule, saying its nighttime operation was arranged with consideration for the paragliding. He stressed that tourism growth would need coordinated management of the different aviation and tourism activities operating in Pokhara.
Safety And Regulation Highlighted In Convention
Safety was one of the key issues addressed in the convention. CAAN Flight Safety Department Chief Prabhakar Chandra Mallik stressed the need for effective regulation and full compliance of established safety standards for the secure operation of paragliding activities. The stakeholders also emphasized the responsibility of businesses and pilots to follow health and safety requirements carefully.
Nepal Tourism Board Executive Member Santosh Pokharel said paragliding has become closely identified with Pokhara tourism and should be further developed by connecting it with sports tourism and adventure tourism. He called for a system that allows the activity to operate safely and in an organized manner, not unnecessarily restricting it. Pokhara Tourism Council Chair Hari Bhujel also stressed the expansion of tourism activities across water, land, and air to help make Pokhara a year-round destination
AGM Elects New Executive Committee
The convention then elected a 13 member executive committee for a two year term with Madhav Tiwari elected president. Tiwari secured 136 votes, while Sanu Babu Sunuwar received 123 votes and Khemraj Acharya received 14 votes. Following his election, Tiwari said he would work towards developing Pokhara’s paragliding sector as a more organized and professionally managed activity and lead the association by bringing stakeholders together.
Vijay Gautam was elected first vice president with 166 votes, while Roshan Gautam became general secretary with 192 votes. Sharmila Sharma was elected secretary with 160 votes and Ram Chandra Subedi ‘Raju’ became treasurer with 131 votes. Suresh Thapa was elected technical vice president unopposed, while Amit Thapa, Laxman Kunwar, Prakash Bhujel, Yubaraj Gautam, Revati Raman Parajuli, Rabin Adhikari, and Dipak Thapa were elected members.
The convention also reviewed the growth of Pokhara’s paragliding industry, which began with training flights in 1996 and entered commercial operation in 2000. The sector has grown from seven companies to 57 companies with 413 paragliding pilots, investment estimated at around Rs 1 billion. The new committee now takes responsibility of a sector that is closely connected with Pokhara’s tourism economy, and faces the need to bolster their safety, professional management and coordination with commercial aviation.
