Pokhara to host Nepal's first International Balloon Festival

POKHARA, Sept 20: The tourism capital of Nepal, is set to host the country’s first-ever International Balloon Festival from December 24, 2024, to January 1, 2025.

The event, organized by Balloon Nepal Pvt. Ltd., will coincide with Christmas and New Year celebrations. Bishnu Bhakta Dhakal, Director of Balloon Nepal, said that the festival will add a new dimension to Pokhara’s tourism. “Rich in natural resources, Pokhara has also been emerging as a destination for adventure tourism in recent times.

In this context, the balloon festival will further support Pokhara’s aim to become a premier adventure tourism destination,” he said. Spanning a three-kilometer area from Lauruk to Chankhpur in Pokhara’s Pame region, the festival will feature around 30 professional balloon companies from Nepal and across the globe. The goal is to promote Pokhara and Nepal as adventure tourism destinations on an international scale.

During the week-long festival, over 500 professional and 300 non-commercial balloon flights are expected to take place. The event will also feature mini balloon shows, cultural performances by national and local artists, food stalls, and other entertainment activities. T

he festival is projected to enhance both domestic and international tourism in Nepal, especially in the post-pandemic recovery phase, boosting local businesses, including hotels and restaurants. Bikram Bade, Chairman of Balloon Nepal Pvt. Ltd., shared that preparations for the event are underway. According to him, around 30 professional balloon companies from Nepal and other countries are expected to participate in this first-of-its-kind festival in Nepal. He explained that the event aims to promote Pokhara and Nepal’s tourism on an international level.

“The festival is being organized to develop adventure tourism in Pokhara, increase the number of domestic and foreign tourists, and revitalize the tourism sector,” Chairman Bade said. He expressed confidence that the festival will add a new dimension to Pokhara’s tourism and increase tourist activities, stating, “The festival will attract more domestic and foreign tourists to Pokhara, thereby helping to revitalize the country’s tourism sector after the pandemic.”