Great Khali to attend Shimla flying fest & hospitality expo
Former WWE superstar The Great Khali will be the star attraction at the second edition of Shimla Flying Festival & Hospitality Expo 2024 that is scheduled to take place at The Gidge Inn, Junga, in Shimla district from October 16 to 19.
His presence was expected to draw a large number of fans and elevate the excitement of the event, Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh told the media today.
“The Great Khali will interact with the attendees, participate in selected activities and contribute to making this festival truly unforgettable for everyone involved,” the minister said. He said the event, which was jointly promoted by the Tourism Department of Himachal Pradesh, the District Administration, and the Ministry of MSME, Solan, promised to be a landmark occasion, bringing adventure sports, tourism and hospitality under one roof.
“The second edition is an enhanced version of the inaugural event, featuring an expanded scale and a broader scope. The festival brings together three core elements — adventure sports, business exhibitions and knowledge sharing — making it a comprehensive platform for stakeholders in the tourism, hospitality, and adventure sectors,” Singh said.
He added that the paragliding competition would provide an excellent platform for paragliders to demonstrate their precision landing skills in the challenging terrains of Shimla, adding that the festival will also draw tourists, locals and adventure lovers from across the country, making it an ideal platform for networking, collaboration and business development. Highlighting the key events of the festival, the minister said a Paragliding Spot Landing Championship would be the major highlight of the festival.
Pilots from across India will showcase their landing skills in both individual and team categories. “Besides, the festival will also feature tourism, hospitality and adventure exhibition, seminars, workshops and knowledge sharing sessions,” he added.
The minister said the festival would have individual championship prizes — Rs 2.25 lakh as first prize, Rs 1.25 lakh as second prize and Rs 75,000 as third prize. Team Championship prizes will be Rs 50,000 first prize, Rs 35,000 second prize and Rs 20,000 third prize.
“By bringing together such a diverse range of participants and stakeholders, the festival will not only promote adventure tourism but also help local economy, particularly hotels, homestays, restaurants, Travel Agents, Taxi owners, Tourist Guides and service providers,” he added.
