Kathmandu :  Actor Rajesh Hamal and actress Priyanka Karki have been appointed goodwill ambassadors for the International Balloon Festival.

 This festival, which is being organised for the first time in Nepal, was announced at a programme held in Kathmandu on Saturday.

During the event, Hamal shared his experience of flying in a balloon 25 years ago while shooting a film in Kathmandu.

 He expressed his belief that the International Balloon Festival would add a new dimension to Nepal’s tourism.

Likewise, actress Priyanka Karki also expressed that she had already experienced various adventures, including paragliding in Pokhara, and believes that flying in a balloon will offer a unique kind of entertainment.

The International Balloon Festival, the first of its kind in Nepal, is being organised by Balloon Nepal.

The festival is scheduled to be held from December 24 to 31, coinciding with Christmas and the English New Year. 

Additionally, the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) is also promoting the event. Deepak Kumar Shrestha and Robert Bishwakarma, based in the UK, are coordinating the promotion, said the company’s Managing Director, Sabin Maharjan.

Approximately 30 professional balloon companies from around the world, including Nepal, will participate in the festival. 

Balloon Nepal will operate five hot air balloons, while 25 other countries, including Spain, France, the USA, the UK, Latvia, Germany, Laos, Austria, Korea, and Italy, are expected to participate, according to company director BB Dhakal.

The festival will take place over a three-kilometre area from Lauruk in Pokhara to Chankhapur in Pame. Bikram Bade, chairman of Balloon Nepal, informed that preparations for the festival are well underway.

The festival will feature a DJ session inside the balloon, which the company has highlighted as a major attraction. Additionally, nighttime balloon flights, including the balloon glow event, will be held to entertain visitors.

Since 2018, Balloon Nepal has been providing hot air balloon flight services from Pokhara.