Efforts To Promote Adventure Tourism Through Paragliding

Our Correspondent

Itanagar: A ten-day basic cum refresher course on paragliding was organised by Arunachal Pradesh Society for Education & Development (APSED) in collaboration with state the department of tourism at Lumdung (Papu Valley) paragliding site in East Kameng district.

The course which concluded on Thursday, is part of skill development programme for the youth and also to promote adventure tourism activities in the Itanagar-Seppa and Itanagar-Ziro tourist circuits.

The closing function was graced by East Kameng Socio Welfare and Cultural Organisation (EKSWCO) Chairman Dahey Sangno and District Tourism Officer Taluk Sonam, a press release informed here on Friday.

APSED president Vijay Sonam in his address informed that in the Itanagar-Seppa tourist circuit there is least footfall of tourists hence Lumdung in Papu Valley is being promoted for paragliding to attract adventure lovers to the district.

He said the Itanagar-Ziro circuit is a favourite tourist destination but there is no adventure activity to cater to the need of the tourists for which, paragliding site at Yazali is being developed to promote adventure tourism.

Sonam added that the local youths and entrepreneurs could take up paragliding on commercial way by facilitating tandem rides in both the areas.

“Paragliding can generate employment to the youths,” he said.

Sonam further added that five girls and six boys are undergoing intermediate level basic cum refresher course at Lumdung since December 15 while, a girl and seven boys, who were sent to Bir Billing in Himachal Pradesh for advance course, are also honing their flying skills.

Sangno in his address congratulated Sonam and his organisation for bringing Lumdung on the paragliding map of the world.

“It is heartening to know that Arunachal Pradesh under his leadership has the most numbers of female pilots in the country,” Sangno said and added that paragliding would promote both tourism and generate employment opportunity in the district.

“EKSWCO is working hard to unearth the potentiality of East Kameng and to convert it to reality and paragliding is one such avenue which has great potential to make the district a hub of adventure tourism,” the EKSWCO chief added.

Both Sonam and Sangno agreed to make paragliding as a major event in the sidelines of the Kameng River Festival coming up in February which would coincide with the NyokumYullo celebration.

Later, the pilots demonstrate their flying skills, both take-off and landing, the release added.

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