‘Truly exhilarating’: Tourism minister Shekhawat experiences tandem skydiving

PTI, Jul 14, 2024, 8:33 AM IST

Narnaul (Haryana): Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Saturday strapped up adventure gears and took part in tandem skydiving in Haryana’s Narnaul and said he foresaw a “bright future” for India in the aero-sports tourism area.

The occasion was World Skydiving Day and the minister also flagged off an aircraft that will be used for skydiving, said to be the first such aircraft in the country.

Early morning, Shekhawat, 56, reached the Narnaul airstrip to experience the thrill in the sky. He was accompanied by his two daughters on the occasion.

Soon after touching down post the tandem skydiving activity, the Union minister shared his experience with mediapersons.

In tandem skydiving, a professional skydiver accompanies the person taking part in it during the whole exercise.

“This day is surely an adventurous day for me, and for the entire world it is an important day in the field of aero-sports, when they are celebrating World Skydiving Day for the first time. In this field, skydiving facility has started at Narnaul (airstrip) here in India and I took part in a jump here today,” Shekhawat said.

“I feel thrilled and side by side can foresee a bright future for India in the tourism sector and in aero-sports segment starting from today,” he told reporters here.

The Tourism Minister said interest towards adventure sports has grown world over and many Indians in large numbers go to different countries, such as the UAE (Dubai), Singapore, Thailand, New Zealand, to enjoy these aero-sports and skydiving.

“After starting this facility in India, people will get an opportunity to take part in an adventurous exercise, and it will also be an important step in the direction of boosting tourism in he country,” he added.

He said a very wonderful and amazing future of aero-sports was beckoning, and added that the Centre will work with state government and private partners engaging in this field to further promote it in different places in the country.

Later, the minister also shared a few pictures and videos in a series of post on X on his experience at Narnaul that was organised by a private entity.

“Today on World Skydiving Day, I too enjoyed its unique thrill. Its facility has started on private level in Narnaul, Haryana. I am happy that the tourism sector in India is getting equipped with world-class facilities. We invite tourists with open arms from the ground to the sky,” he wrote on X.

“Truly exhilarating! On the occasion of World Skydiving Day, had the pleasure of flagging off the new skydiving aircraft and taking a tandem skydive this morning at Skyhigh—India’s only civilian skydiving drop zone at Narnaul Airstrip, Haryana. For new and adventurous Bharat, the skies too are no limit,” he wrote in another post.