Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 24: A vibrant new chapter unfurled in Jammu’s adventure tourism drive today as an advanced P-4 paragliding training course commenced at the world-famous Bir Billing site in Himachal Pradesh (HP).
The programme, launched this morning at the off-site campus of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (ABVIMAS), Manali, has drawn strong institutional support and marks a renewed thrust on high-skill adventure sports capacity building for the Jammu region.
Joint Director Tourism, Jammu, Aijaz Qaiser, and In-charge Adventure Section Amarpal Singh accompanied a group of local paragliding pilots to Bir Billing, representing the Directorate of Tourism Jammu, during the formal initiation of this specialized training module. The advanced course has been organized by the Directorate for a cohort of 21 local pilots, including a woman aviator, reflecting the department’s focus on inclusivity and expanding professional avenues within the sector.
Officials said the initiative stems from sustained efforts to transform Aithem into a premier paragliding hotspot in line with the directions of Chief Secretary J&K, Atal Dulloo. The training programme is designed to upgrade professional capabilities of youth from Jammu, enabling them to meet global safety and skill benchmarks and further position the region as a standout destination for adventure lovers.
The course is being conducted under the overall guidance of Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism Department, Ashish Chander Verma, and Director Tourism Jammu Vikas Gupta, who have been steering the department’s wider strategy to strengthen adventure tourism infrastructure across Jammu.
Speaking at the launch, Aijaz Qaiser reaffirmed the administration’s focus on expanding tourism-linked livelihoods. He said the Department remains fully committed to diversifying tourism activities in the region while ensuring local youth receive structured, high-quality professional training. These interventions, he noted, would not only uplift skill standards but also bolster Jammu’s emergence as a preferred choice for thrill-seekers and outdoor travel enthusiasts.
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