SATV Kathmandu, December 2, 2024 – In a groundbreaking initiative to enhance adventure tourism, the International Balloon Festival will kick off in Pokhara’s Pame area on December 24, 2024. Organizers announced the event during a press conference in Kathmandu, aiming to establish Nepal as a key destination for adventure tourism.

The festival, organized by Balloon Nepal Pvt. Ltd., marks the first of its kind in the country and aims to revive the tourism sector to pre-pandemic conditions. The inaugural nine-day festival is expected to feature nearly two dozen colorful balloons soaring high in the skies of Pokhara, which is renowned as a tourism capital. The event intends not only to promote Pokhara and Nepal’s tourism internationally but also to advance adventure tourism overall. Additionally, it is anticipated to attract both domestic and foreign tourists, thereby bolstering Nepal's economy and revitalizing the tourism sector.

The festival will welcome participants from a variety of countries, including the United States, Spain, Lithuania, Thailand, and Vietnam. Attendees will enjoy breathtaking views of the snow-covered Annapurna mountain range, including Machapuchhre and Dhaulagiri, along with the stunning vistas of the Pokhara valley during the 40-minute balloon rides. Sunrise and sunset views are expected to be major attractions for visitors. To enhance the experience, the festival will also feature evening fireworks displays, balloon races, and camping activities.

Throughout the festival, local musical bands in Pokhara will perform daily, showcasing prominent Nepali artists such as Dipak Bajracharya and team, Raju Lama and Mongolian Heart, Elina Chauhan, and Kuma Sagar and Khwapa Band. The event is organized with support from the Nepal Tourism Board, the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), the Pokhara Metropolitan City, and the Pokhara Tourism Board, with management handled by Charismatic Digital Solutions. The Pokhara Tourism Council is a co-organizer, while actor Rajesh Hamal and actress Priyanka Karki serve as brand ambassadors for the festival.

This festival promises to be a landmark event for adventure tourism in Nepal, inviting the world to partake in its beauty.