Residents of smog-hit cities can either turn green seeing social media pictures of colourful parachutes dotting clear skies as people take to adventure tourism, or head there themselves. The latter is likely the case, as over 70% Gen Zs favour sky sports like paragliding, sky jumping and ballooning while on vacation. Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh is already deep into its fourth edition of a skydiving festival, even as the paragliding world cup just got over at Bir-Billing in Himachal Pradesh.
Adventure tourism is big, and those in the sky have a special thrill. With adventure tourism in the country projected to grow at 20% over the next five years, local sky adventure operators also say their individual businesses, especially adventures in the sky, are growing at 7% to 14% since the past two years. Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are especially prioritising adventure tourism.
EaseMyTrip co-founder Rikant Pittie said 72% of the Gen Z population prefers sky adventure tourism. “Sky adventure tourism in India has seen a surge in demand, driven by the growing interest from young India’s millennials and Gen Z population who are increasingly seeking adventure-driven experiences,” also noted Rajeev Kale, president and country head—holidays, MICE, visa, Thomas Cook (India).
Seeing the response for the Ujjain skydiving festival, where at least 1,000 participants are expected in the ongoing three-month festival, a Madhya Pradesh tourism board spokesperson said they will make this an annual feature. Private travel operator Skyhigh India, which is facilitating bookings for the festival, at Rs 30,000 per person, has received over 120 bookings in less than a week.
Travel agencies said popular sites for skydiving—Mysore, Hyderabad, and Aamby Valley—are attracting both domestic and international thrill-seekers. Locations like Bir Billing in Himachal Pradesh and Kamshet in Maharashtra remain hubs for paragliding, while bungee jumping at Rishikesh is seeing a steady increase in demand. Costs for these activities range from Rs 3,500 for paragliding to Rs 60,000 for advanced skydiving.
“This surge is attributed to increased government and private sector initiatives to promote adventure tourism, coupled with heightened consumer interest in unique, adrenaline-filled experiences,” said EaseMyTrip co-founder Rikant Pittie.
“We work closely with state governments to craft experiences for discerning, high-spending travellers,” said Samit Garg, co-founder of SkyWaltz, which offers hot air ballooning in Jaipur and Hampi. After seeing high tourist footfalls, Rajasthan tourism recalibrated the state’s promotion to showcase it as an adventure tourism destination. Samarth Sharma, proprietor and instructor of SkyVentures operating in Jodhpur and Rajsamand, said his business is booming, with about a 8% jump annually.
Hot air ballooning is particularly popular in Rajasthan (Pushkar, Jaipur), Maharashtra (Lonavala), and Karnataka (Hampi). The cost typically varies between Rs 8,000 and Rs 15,000, depending on location and ride duration.
Sabina Chopra, chief operating officer, corporate travel and head industry, Yatra, said sky adventure tourism in India is experiencing a remarkable surge. “Travellers are increasingly drawn to unique, adrenaline-packed experiences. The desire for more immersive and exciting trips is also supported by government initiatives that promote adventure tourism,” she added.
There is an increased interest in destinations where adventure meets spirituality. Young travellers are combining outdoor adventure experiences with pilgrimages, such as sky adventure tourism like paragliding in Bir and zip-lining over the Ganges.
SD Nandakumar, president and country head of holidays and corporate tours, SOTC Travel, said Goa is also becoming a popular destination for adventure tourism, with sky adventures being a key activity.
The Union tourism ministry aims to achieve a robust $3-trillion tourism economy by 2047, with a substantial contribution of $800 billion from adventure tourism alone. As per a report by Grand View Research, the adventure tourism market in India is expected to reach a projected revenue of $47 million by 2030. A compound annual growth rate of 18.3% is expected for the India adventure tourism market from 2024 to 2030.
Two circuits, covering six northeastern states, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, are key focus areas for adventure tourism under the Swadesh Darshan scheme. Union tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat had said in the Lok Sabha in July this year that the northeast and Himalayan circuits have been allocated Rs 782.55 crore and Rs 517.99 crore, respectively, for promotion of adventure tourism.
