Aizawl: Tourism minister Lalrinpuii Friday said 79 paragliders from 12 countries — Saudi Arabia, Kosovo, Albania, South Korea, Spain, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Mongolia, Nepal and Kazakhstan, as well as from different parts of the country will participate in the coming International Paragliding Accuracy Championship & Air Sports Festival 2024 to be hosted by Mizoram.
Talking to media persons, Lalrinpuii said the six-day festival will be held at the Federation of Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) category-2 paragliding site of Mizoram Aero Sport Association (MASA) at Bawngchawm in Serchhip district from Dec 9 to 14.
"The MASA had established a paragliding site at Bawngchawm considered to be the best site in the Asian continent," she said, adding that the international paragliding accuracy championship & air sports festival will ensure that Mizoram has a place in the world map.
This is going to be the largest number of foreign sports persons participating in an event in the state even as paragliders from China and Germany are yet to reach the country due to visa problems, she said.
She said the event will also be marked by paragliding joyride, hot air balloon joyride, mega fish angling event "Nghakuai Chiah Runpui", air rifle shooting and free musical concert at night while the festival will also showcase 15 stalls offering food items, handloom, fruits, vegetables, fresh fish and other local products.
She said the state has immense potential for adventure tourism if properly tapped will boost the economy of the people. She also announced that the state tourism department is organising a winter festival at the Assam Rifles ground in Aizawl from Dec 16 to 21.