 Early Times Report
JAMMU, Oct 13: Speaking on the occasion Aijaz Qaiser, JKAS, Joint Director Tourism, Jammu, gave the details of this first ever paragliding refresher course, from 8th to 13th October 2025, which was organized by the Directorate of Tourism, Jammu, in collaboration with the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (ABVIMAS), Manali. The refresher course was attended by 20 local paragliders from jammu region only . A team of expert instructors from ABVIMAS conducted extensive training sessions on paragliding safety, flight techniques, meteorological assessment, equipment maintenance, and emergency handling. He also expressed gratitude to ABVIMAS institute and its experts and highlighted that the refresher course will greatly enhance the safety and professionalism of adventure tourism in the region. He added that the jammu Tourism remains committed to building skilled manpower and strengthening Jammu's profile as a leading destination for adventure and eco-tourism. This first ever course is a watershed moment in the history of adventure tourism in jammu. The directorate is collaborating with ABVIMAS and all future training courses of P1,P2 and P3 level for paragliders will be organised here at Aithem only without sending our local paragliders to NIMAS in Arunachal Pradesh or ABVIMAS in Himachal Pradesh . Such initiatives will be a regular affair in the coming year which will greatly benefit the sports lovers and adventure enthusiasts besides generating employment avenues for the youth.
He further added tha This site in Aithem which is in close vicinity to jammu City on Surinsar road will soon be developed on the pattern of Beer Biling.
The entire program was organized under the overall guidance of Dr. Ashish Chandra Verma, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism Department, J&K, and Shri Vikas Gupta, JKAS, Director Tourism, Jammu, who closely monitored and guided the smooth conduct of the course and the valedictory event.
During the six-day training, participating pilots underwent both theoretical and practical sessions aimed at upgrading their professional competence and ensuring strict adherence to safety standards in adventure tourism. The initiative is part of the department's continued efforts to promote Aithem, Surinsar, Sanasar, and other scenic destinations as adventure tourism hubs in the Jammu Division.
The valedictory function featured paragliding demonstrations, interaction with participants, and distribution of participation certificates. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from trained pilots and officers of the Tourism Department.
Savita Chouhan, Deputy Director Tourism (Adventure), Jammu, and Vishal Sadhotra, Assistant Director Tourism, Jammu, along with whole staff including senior receptionist adventurer, Amarpal singh and Neema Bhat coordinated and facilitated the successful organization of the entire course and event.
The successful culmination of the course marks another step forward in the Tourism Department's mission to promote safe, sustainable, and experience-driven adventure tourism in Jammu & Kashmir. |
