Tourists used to be able to enjoy flying in the sky for 8,500 rupees, but now this fee has increased to 17,500 rupees.
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The silvery Machhapuchhre and Annapurna ranges shine above. Below, Pokhara is adorned with lakes ranging from Fewa, Begnas, Rupa, Maidi to Deepa, and Gunde, Khaste, and Nyareni.
The popular 'ultralight flight' for those who want to see this beauty from the sky has now slowed down. There is now a shortage of tourists who enjoy the speed of the wind through ultralight flights.
Locals also call it a butterfly ship because it can accommodate only two people, is small in appearance, and looks like a colorful butterfly when flying in the sky. Once upon a time, the ultralight or 'butterfly ship' was luring adventurous tourists in the tourist city of Pokhara. This ship, which was the choice of those interested in this adventurous activity, where you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of nature while drinking kava with the speed of the wind in the open sky, is now starting to lack tourists.
Natasa Shrestha, Managing Director of Avia Club, believes that domestic and foreign tourists are avoiding this activity because the fees are expensive. 'It was very good before, but now the fees have become expensive. After the Civil Aviation Authority increased the fees for 'take-off' and 'landing', the flight fees have become expensive, which has hit the business a lot,' she said.
A few years ago, tourists could enjoy flying in the sky for 8,500 rupees, but now this fee has increased to 17,500 rupees. She said that the number of tourists who fly ultralight has decreased due to the doubling of the fee.
Pokhara's geography is considered favorable for ultralighting. Ultralighting is the first of its kind in South Asia. Shrestha said that it has good potential in Nepal and that it can be used to introduce Nepal to the global market and bring in tourism.
The lack of skilled manpower and the state's tourism-friendly policy has affected the tourism sector as private sector businesses are collapsing and the prospects for new investment are decreasing, she said. 'Initially, many people found it strange when such an adventure sport was introduced in Pokhara, but today it has become the identity of Pokhara,' she said. 'We have succeeded in taking Pokhara's tourism to the heights of the sky, not just lakes and caves. Its promotion and expansion are necessary.'
According to her, in the initial days, it was necessary to rely entirely on Russian pilots to fly ultralights. The Avia Club brought in an experienced Russian pilot and started its flights. However, now young Nepali pilots have started flying.
Currently, only Pokhara Avia Club and Pokhara Ultralight Pvt. Ltd. provide this service, informed Pokhara Ultralight Managing Director Pom Narayan Shrestha. According to him, companies that used to operate 40 flights a day are now limited to four flights a day.
He said that if the state can create a tourism-friendly policy and create a comfortable environment for activities to attract tourists, the policy sector will be relieved and tourism will be promoted. He believes that it is unfortunate that ultralights, which were once preferred by tourists interested in adventurous activities, are now slowing down due to a lack of tourists and high fees.
Bikash Gurung of Rambazar, Pokhara, who flew ultralights with a foreign friend a few years ago, complained that the fees are now high. 'The fees have become expensive now, if the fees are reduced, domestic tourists can be attracted,' he said.
