New Rules to Promote Adventure Tourism in Nepal

The government has enforced the Recreational Aviation Regulation 2016 amending the Aviation Sports Regulation 2012 in a bid to promote adventure tourism. The new regulation came into effect from July 16. As of now, only Pokhara has been the hotspot destination for aviation activities like paragliding, hand gliding or micro light and ultra light flights. The government plants to diversity such leisure aviation activities in other parts of Nepal as well. Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane, joint-secretary at the Tourism Ministry, said the new regulation aims at making the activities more popular and enabling firms involved in the business to operate more efficiently and transparently.

He said the regulation has simplified procedures for foreign amateur flyers in Nepal. Likewise, special permission can be issued to conduct any of these activities in any special occasion under the new rule. The regulation has simplified procedures for foreign amateur flyers in Nepal. Special permission can be issued to conduct any of these activities in any special occasion under the new rule. A code of conduct has been imposed for pilots and operators. also, the companies should make public the fare of all such activities. “Amid growing concern that the companies have been charging fares in a haphazard manner, we have enforced the provision of making fare public,” said Lamichhane.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal charges Rs 150,000 for an air operator certificate and Rs 50,000 as flight permission fee per flier, which is valid for 15 days.

To encourage such activities outside Pokhara, the companies will be offered a 50 percent discount on licence renewal fees, pilot registration fees and charge levied on equipments.

As the number of leisure aviation, particularly paragliding, has reached a saturation point, making the airspace in Pokhara congested and unsafe, the Tourism Ministry in September 2014 had stopped issuing new operating permits.

New permits have been restricted in Sarangkot, Toripani and Mandredhunga, covered by the air traffic service route of Pokhara airport and its control zone within 10 nautical miles radius.

Currently, there are more than 65 paragliding companies across the country—more than 95 percent operating in Pokhara. A few companies have been permitted to operate in Bandipur, Bhedetar, Surkhet, Syangja and Palpa.

Popular season for this adventure sport is September-November. However, operators say paragliding is becoming popular as an all-season activity among the visitors.

Source: The Kathmandu Post