Narnaul (Haryana): Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Saturday laced up his adventure gear and took part in a tandem skydive in Haryana’s Narnaul and said that the air sports tourism sector in India has a “bright future”.
The day was World Skydiving Day, and the Minister also held a departure ceremony for the country’s first skydiving aircraft.
The 56-year-old Shekhawat arrived at the Narnaul airfield early in the morning to experience the thrill of the skies, accompanied by his two daughters.
Immediately after landing from the tandem skydive, the Federal Minister spoke to media personnel about his experience.
In tandem skydiving, a professional skydiver accompanies the dive participant throughout the entire journey.
“This day is definitely an adventure day for me and for the world at large, it is an important day in the field of aviation sports as World Skydiving Day is being celebrated for the first time, where a skydiving facility has been inaugurated at Narnaul, India and I am taking part in the jump here today,” Shekhawat said.
“I am excited and I feel that from today onwards, I can foresee a bright future for both the tourism sector and the aviation sports sector in India,” he told reporters here.
The Tourism Minister said interest in adventure sports is on the rise across the world and many Indians are travelling to different countries including the UAE (Dubai), Singapore, Thailand and New Zealand to indulge in aerial sports and skydiving.
“The opening of this facility in India will give people an opportunity to take part in adventurous exercise and will also be a significant step towards boosting tourism in the country,” he added.
He said that there is a very good and amazing future ahead for aviation sports and added that the Centre will work with state governments and private partners involved in the sector to further promote aviation sports in different parts of the country.
Later, the Minister also shared several pictures and videos in a series of posts about his experience in Narnaul, organised by a private organisation.
“Today, on World Skydiving Day, I too enjoyed the unique thrill. A civilian level facility has opened in Narnaul, Haryana. I am happy that India’s tourism industry is equipping itself with world class facilities. From ground to sky, we welcome tourists with open arms,” he wrote on X.
“So exhilarating! To mark World Skydiving Day, I celebrated the take-off of a new skydiving aircraft this morning at India’s only private skydiving drop zone, Sky High, Narnaul Aerodrome, Haryana and had the pleasure of experiencing a tandem skydive. For new and adventurous Indians, the sky is the limit,” he wrote in another post.
Published on July 13, 2024 at 17:18 IST
