KATHMANDU: Nepal's tourism minister Hisila Yami today jumped from the 160 metre high suspension bridge over Bhotekoshi river, in order to promote Nepal as a prime adventure tourism destination as part of Nepal Tourism Year 2011 campaign.
Nepal aims to bring in one million tourists, more than double of the current 400,000 visitors by 2011.
"It was exciting and thrilling experience for me, but I am not scared as I have jumped many times in the forest during the decade long armed conflict, said Yami Maoist activist turned minister after participating in the bungee jumping event yesterday at the Bungee Nepal, a natural bungee site situated near Tatopani border area.
She was accompanied by over a dozen other jumpers including first Nepalese woman sky-diver Maya Gurung and women Everest summiteers Pujan Acharya, Asha Singh and Ngawang Phuti Sherpa.
The Bungee Nepal established in 1998 is the Nepal's only bungee jumping venue, which is also the world's third highest bungee site.
Yami, wife of Finance Minister and senior Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai, said she has been involved in sports since her college years in Delhi School of Architecture in 1980s where she was honoured as the best sports woman.
"I was very curious to participate in the bungee jump and fulfilled my wishes today," said the first Nepalese minister to participate in the sport.
I wanted to prove that Nepal is one of the best destination for sports tourism as well as adventure tourism, she said adding women are none the less competent than men in world of adventure.
Nepal is the safest place for those wishing to experience adventure tourism, she pointed out. At a time when south Asia is regarded as an unsafe destination, Nepal wants to promote it as a safer destination through adventure sports, she added. Adventure tourism will help Nepal to recover from the negative effects of global depression, she hoped.
We wanted to promote public, private partnership in order to develop tourism sector, she said.
The bungee sports attracted around 20 bungee jumpers out of which 30% were local visitors, according to Bungy Nepal. However, Indian visitors comprise just one percent of who arrive in the venue for adventure sports.
The bungee sports attracted around 20 bungee jumpers out of which 30% were local visitors, according to Bungy Nepal. However, Indian visitors comprise just one percent of who arrive in the venue for adventure sports.
Source: Times of India
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