Hotel occupancy below 30%, no mega event organised this year despite CM’s tall promises
Munish Sood
MANDI: The world-famous paragliding destination of Bir-Billing, known as the “Kumbh” of paragliding, is lying empty this season, its skies nearly deserted and its tourism industry gasping for survival.
Despite being globally ranked among the best paragliding sites, the region’s adventure tourism has taken a nosedive due to alleged government indifference and the Tourism Department’s lack of initiative.
After a three-month suspension during the monsoon, paragliding activities at Bir-Billing resumed recently, but the season has begun on a disappointing note. Tourist arrivals are barely half of what they used to be in previous years and even hotel occupancy has dropped to below 30% during what should have been the peak season.
“This is the time when our skies should be full of colorful gliders, but this year even the ‘Kumbh of paragliders’ looks deserted,” said Anurag Sharma, president of the Billing Paragliding Association (BPA).
“The Tourism Department has completely turned a blind eye to this place. Last year, we somehow organised the Bir-Billing Paragliding Cup after a gap of nine years from our own limited resources. But this year, there has been no such support or initiative from the government.”
He added that the BPA did not have sufficient funds to host such a world-level event every year on its own. “We did not apply to the FCA this year, but it’s unfortunate that the world’s second-best paragliding site, with five take-off points and flights covering 280-290 km for up to eight hours, is being ignored,” Sharma said.
The decline in adventure tourism has left the hospitality sector in deep distress. “Our hotel occupancy is below 30% in this peak season. Adventure tourism is our lifeline and such events bring international attention and tourists from across the globe. The inaction of the Tourism Department is destroying this place,” said Ankit Sood, a leading hotelier in Bir.
Satish Abrol, president of the Bir Billing Hotel Association, was even more direct. “This is a total failure of the Tourism Department. They talk of promoting Kangra as the tourism capital of Himachal, but its most prestigious destination is being left to die. We have the infrastructure, global recognition and natural beauty — yet no effort is being made to revive it,” he said.
CM’s promises fade into silence
Locals recall that the Chief Minister had repeatedly assured that major tourism and adventure events would be organised annually in Bir-Billing to boost local employment and promote Himachal Pradesh as a global adventure hub. However, this promise remains unfulfilled.
“Every year, we hear the same assurances from the top — that big events will be held here to attract global paragliders — but nothing happens on the ground. The government only remembers Bir-Billing for photo opportunities, not for real development,” said a senior member of the paragliding community requesting anonymity.
According to BPA pilots, only around 50 to 60 flights are taking off daily, a steep drop from the hundreds of flights that used to fill the skies in previous seasons. “Normally, bookings pour in by mid-September and Dussehra brings a boom. But this year, the response is dismal,” said Chamel Thakur, a senior pilot.
Kuldeep Thakur, president of the Paragliding Pilot Union, expressed concern over the poor maintenance of take-off and landing sites. “The takeoff area lacks proper matting and grassing, leading to accidents. Unregistered agents are exploiting tourists with low-quality services, damaging the credibility of licensed operators. The government’s neglect is hurting both safety and reputation,” he said.
Bir-Billing, often called the “Paragliding Capital of India”, gained worldwide fame for hosting the Paragliding World Cup in 2015 and again last year. But now, the same place that once hosted international gliders is struggling to attract even domestic tourists.
