Paragliding flights turn dearer by Rs 700 an hour

POKHARA, Oct 24: Paragliding companies based in Pokhara have hiked the fare for paragliding flights by Rs 700 for hourlong flight and Rs 300 for 20-mintue to half-an-hour flight. They said rising operating cost and inflation are the reasons for the increase in fare.



Septemeber to April is considered as most suitable period for paragliding. [break]



According to operators, 80 flights including tandem and solo flights are taking off daily from Sarangkot.



Foreigners as well as domestic tourists will now have to pay an additional Rs 300 to Rs 700 after a decision was taken to this effect by Nepal Airport Association (NAA) last week. There are fourteen operators offering the service in Pokhara.



Operators have also decided to charge foreigners in Nepali currency only. "We are incurring loss because of fluctuation in euro," NAA president Rajesh Bamjan said adding that the new rates favor all operators.



According to officials of NAA, a foreigner will have to pay Rs 7,500 per flight of 20 minutes to half an hour, which was earlier available at Rs 7,200. Similarly, for an hourlong flight, foreigners will have to pay Rs 10,500 against Rs 9,800 earlier.



Domestic tourists will pay an additional Rs 500 for half an hour flight, which would now cost Rs 5,000 per person. However, there is no change in the tariff for an hourlong flight for domestic tourists. Locals can enjoy an hour of paragliding at Rs 7,500 only.







Bamjan added that it was necessary to increase the fare to maintain price uniformity.



"There is no problem at present but unhealthy competition among operators might be problematic at later stages," he added. Uniformity in price will protect tourists from paying unnecessarily high prices for the same service.

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