Udayapur, Sept 4: Belaka municipality of Udayapur district has started the campaign of operating pragliding with an aim to promote tourism in the municipality. The objective is also to bring more than 50 thousand domestic and foreign visitors to Belaka area annually.

Paragliding tests have been operated from Bopatang hill and Champakot hill at Mainamaini of Belaka. The location is at an altitude of 2,000 meters from the sea level. Sunkoshi river side is the landing site for the paragliding.

The municipality plans to develop the area into a 'number one' paragliding hub in Province1.

More than 200 youths and tourism entrepreneurs in Belaka area have taken paragliding training for this purpose.

Mayor Durga Kumar Thapa said the final preparations are being made to operate commercial paragliding at Bopatang and Champakot from November this year.

Construction of physical structures and management works are being carried out at the paragliding takeoff and landing sites at present.

Belaka Paragliding Association, Sunsari Chatara Paragliding, Pokhara Paragliding and Asian Paragliding Group are investing in this venture with the facilitation of Belaka municipality.

The paragliding service will provide direct employment to 250 youths and it will also help promote self-employment with the operation of hotels and home stay service in the area.