Bir-Billing, a renowned paragliding destination in Himachal Pradesh’s Kangra district, has experienced a significant surge in tourist activity, with over 300 paragliding flights recorded in a single day as the summer season gains momentum.
Information was available with The Chenab Times indicating that the scenic valley was bustling with activity over the recent weekend, drawing adventure enthusiasts from across the nation for tandem paragliding experiences. Sunday alone saw more than 300 tourists take to the skies, marking one of the busiest days of the current season.
The influx of visitors includes not only domestic tourists but also a number of foreign pilots who have chosen Bir-Billing for its reputation as one of the world’s premier paragliding sites. The location, which has a history of hosting international paragliding events, continues to attract a global audience of thrill-seekers and aviation aficionados.
Beyond the paragliding flights from Billing, tourists are also exploring the picturesque Rajgundha valley and other scenic locales in the vicinity. This increased visitor traffic has provided a substantial boost to the local hospitality sector, with numerous establishments reporting high occupancy rates.
Bir currently boasts over 200 hotels, guest houses, and hostels, many of which experienced full bookings during the weekend rush. Local stakeholders have expressed optimism, noting that the rise in tourist footfall has brought renewed economic activity to businesses reliant on the tourism industry.
Officials associated with the paragliding industry confirmed that approximately 300 registered local pilots are actively engaged in providing tandem flying services. This indicates a robust operational capacity to cater to the heightened demand.
Satish Awasthi, president of the Bir Hotel and Restaurant Association, stated that the strong weekend turnout has provided a considerable impetus to the local economy. He further elaborated that the benefits of this tourism boom extend beyond hotel owners to encompass taxi operators, café proprietors, shopkeepers, and various other entities within the service sector. The current surge in tourist activity has fostered expectations of a prosperous summer season in the coming weeks.
In contrast, tourism in other nearby destinations has remained relatively subdued. Reports indicated that hotel occupancy in several other hill towns was approximately 40 per cent on Sunday. Representatives from the Hotel and Restaurant Association noted that the season had not yet fully picked up as anticipated in areas such as Palampur, Kangra, and Dharamsala.
However, there is a prevailing sense of optimism that tourist arrivals will escalate in the ensuing days as temperatures in the plains continue to rise and summer vacations commence. Stakeholders across the Kangra district anticipate that popular destinations including Bir-Billing, Dharamsala, McLeodganj, and Palampur will witness increased visitor numbers, thereby supporting a broader economic revival across the region.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
