Thiruvananthapuram: Parasailing is set to begin at Kovalam beach in Kerala, a favourite destination for foreign tourists and domestic travellers. Now, one can explore the thrill of parasailing, by staying elevated at about 100 metres above the sea on a parachute, flying as the boat attached to it moves, and experience the aerial view of the sea and the shore from a height at Kovalam.
Parasailing, which was only heard of in Goa, Chennai and certain other major tourism centres in the country, has been facilitated in Kerala, adding charm to Kovalam. Now you can parasail at Kerala’s Kovalam. Adapting to the new norms and trends in tourism, the parasailing project at Kovalam is expected to attract more crowds in the coming days.
Parasailing at the sea is a recreational adventure activity involving sailing in the air on a parachute - attached to a boat - above the sea. The parasail wings or an open parachute is attached with ropes to a boat about 250 metres into the sea.
A feeder boat from the shore takes the parasailor to the parasail boat. When this boat moves around in the sea, the parasailor on the open parachute attached to it flies over the sea and gets to experience the ariel view of Kovalam and its shore.
The parasailing adventure activity at Kovalam is run by a private adventure sports company in association with the State Tourism Department. Through the project, the Tourism Department would explore the possibilities of adventure tourism, attract the younger generation in India, and thereby increase the tourism revenue for the State.
The aerial view of Kovalam sea and its shore is mesmerizing. It would remain a cherished memory for a lifetime for the travellers here. The changing trends and novelties in the field of tourism are to be explored and utilised, said representatives with the private adventure company behind the project.
A fee of Rs 2,500 would be charged for a half an hour-long parasailing experience above Kovalam sea. Those who are sailing on a parachute or parasail wings for the first time might feel a bit nervous and scared initially. But they would be thrilled once they start flying high. The project is completely safe and all security measures have been taken, assured the water adventure company which has been in the field of water sport activities for a long time.
Kovalam already had other water adventure activities like speed boating and scuba diving. With the start of parasailing, the COVID lull in tourism in Kovalam is expected to wean off. The foreign tourists and the domestic travellers at Kovalam can experience parasailing at a reasonable rate hereafter. State Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran had inaugurated the parasailing adventure activity here on Saturday.
