6,000 paragliding tourists took off in Sikkim in last 3 years

GANGTOK, 02 Feb: Sikkim is fast emerging as a sought after paragliding destination in the country. The state has registered 6000 paragliding tourists in the last three years. In its first year, the state registered only 500 paragliding tourists and the numbers have increased steadily each year.
A press release informs that by 2020 the state hopes to attract 5000 paragliding tourists each year and the state government aims to generate annual economic activities worth Rs 10 crore from paragliding events by 2020.
At present the state has more than 35 qualified commercial pilots who are conducting paragliding sessions at the backdrop of mountain ranges in its three paragliding sites at Bulbuley dara, Ranka and Chakung.
The state government is further planning to expand and beautify the existing takeoff at Bulbuley dara and Chakung, so that the carrying capacity of the takeoff increases, as the number of Sikkimese pilots is increasing and number of tourists coming to fly is on the rise.
Paragliding services in the state are also being diversified after the Sikkim Paragliding Festival and a new hike and fly route in West Sikkim has been established. A new paragliding route from Phoktey dara (Nepal/India) border and Dentam has also been identified, the release informs.
At present around 100 youths are associated with paragliding which generates annual economic activities of around Rs 1 crore in a year. The state government plans to actively associate around 500 youths with the paragliding sports by developing two more modern paragliding sites at Yumthang and Soreng with latest world class facilities by spending Rs 10 crore during the 12th five year plan. The state also plans to develop at least two paragliding sites with the latest safety, medical and infrastructural facilities at each district of the state by the year 2020, it is added.