Jammu, October 13, 2025 – The Directorate of Tourism Jammu marked a milestone in adventure tourismwith the successful conclusion of its first-ever six-day Paragliding Refresher Course, culminating in a vibrant closing ceremony at Aithem View Point along the Jammu–Surinsar Road. Aijaz Qaiser, JKAS, Joint Director Tourism Jammu, addressed the gathering, highlighting the program’s role in elevating safety standards and positioning Jammu as a premier paragliding destination.Held from October 8 to 13, 2025, the course was a collaborative effort between the Directorate of Tourism Jammu and the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (ABVIMAS), Manali, under the guidance of Additional Chief Secretary Tourism Ashish Chandra Verma, IAS, and Director Tourism Jammu Vikas Gupta, JKAS. Expert trainers from ABVIMAS supervised intensive theoretical and practical sessions for local paragliding pilots, focusing on skill enhancement, flight techniques, and adherence to rigorous safety protocols in adventure tourism.
The initiative serves as crucial preparation for the advanced P4 training at Bir Billing starting October 17, 2025, and aligns with broader efforts to develop Aithem, Surinsar, Sanasar, and other Jammu Division spots as thrilling adventure tourism hubs. Participants, including trained youth from the region, demonstrated renewed proficiency, underscoring the course’s impact on professional competence and economic opportunities through paragliding and allied sports.Key coordinators, such as Deputy Director Tourism (Adventure) Savita Chouhan and Assistant Director Vishal Sadhotra, alongside staff like Amarpal Singh and Neema Bhat, ensured seamless execution. Officials emphasized that such programs will empower local talent, attract adventure enthusiasts, and diversify Jammu’s tourism portfolio beyond traditional sites.This refresher course not only reinforces Jammu’s emerging status as a paragliding hub but also signals the government’s commitment to sustainable, skill-based adventure tourism growth in Jammu and Kashmir.
