POKHARA, Dec 22: Pilots from over a dozen nations are taking part in the International Balloon Festival, which is being staged for the first time in Pokhara. Foreign pilots have already arrived in Pokhara for the event, which aims to boost adventure tourism in the region. This is the first ever balloon festival being conducted in Nepal, especially in Pokhara.
Hot air ballooning provides an exciting tourist experience. Balloon Nepal has been offering hot air balloon rides above Pokhara since 2018. This time, however, the organizers have planned the festival with the goal of increasing tourism. The Pokhara Tourism Council (PTC) and Balloon Nepal Pvt Ltd are co-organizing the event, which will run from December 24 to January 1.
Balloon Nepal's president, Bikram Bade, stated that the event was created to boost tourism in Pokhara via adventure sports. He claimed that balloon pilots from 15 nations had already arrived in Pokhara. During this time, 17 balloons, including those from Nepal, will lift off at the same time in the morning and evening. The celebration will be held in the sky above Pame, along the beaches of Fewa Lake.
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"We are working to fill the skies of Pokhara with 17 balloons flying simultaneously. Since this is the first time the festival is being held in Pokhara, it will be a new experience for everyone," he said at a press meeting on Saturday. "This festival is also completely new for Nepali citizens. We expect it to promote tourism in Pokhara, and we hope domestic visitors will come to enjoy the balloons." A hot air balloon can carry up to 8 tourists at a time.
Yogendra Kunwar, the manager of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal in Pokhara, said they issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) for the skies over Pame for a duration of nine days to allow balloon flights. He explained that the sky over Pame serves as a landing area for paragliding and lies on the flight route for helicopters and planes coming from the west, which prompted the issuance of the NOTAM. "The sky over Pame is sensitive in terms of air routes, but the NOTAM resolves any issues," Kunwar said.
President Bade said Nepali tourists must pay a fee of Rs 11,000 per person for a balloon ride. Tourists from SAARC countries and China will pay 120 US dollars per person, while tourists from other countries will pay 150 US dollars per person. Once the balloon reaches a certain altitude, passengers can view the northern Himalayan range, Pokhara city, Fewa Lake, and the Panchase area along the shore of Fewa Lake, making the flight a highly attractive experience, he added.
He said the balloon flights will take place from 6 to 9 in the morning and 4 to 6 in the evening during the festival period. He explained that the cold weather makes balloon flights easier, making the morning and evening times the most suitable. He also said that the promotion of balloon flights will benefit from the large number of visitors expected at the street festival in Pokhara, which coincides with Christmas and the New Year.
Taranath Pahari, the president of the PTC, said the balloon festival has become a new attraction for tourists visiting Pokhara. "Since Pokhara is the capital of tourism and the festival is being held for the first time, it will offer a new product for many tourists," he said. "With Nepal now added to the list of countries where balloon flights take place, it has become a new destination for the festival. Foreign pilots visiting Nepal will promote the beauty of Pokhara after returning to their countries, benefiting tourism overall."
The outgoing president of the PTC, Pom Narayan Shrestha, stated that the balloon festival will further expand Pokhara's identity. He emphasized that the festival will elevate both Pokhara and Nepal's entire tourism sector. "We have introduced another product to the list of experiences in the skies of Pokhara, which will help attract more adventure tourists in the future," he said.
