PANAJI
The Goa government has made it compulsory for all operators of paragliding, paramotoring, hot air ballooning and drone flight activities to provide personal accident insurance of at least Rs 15 lakh for every pilot and passenger.
The new Goa Aero Sports Rules, 2025, notified by the Tourism Department on October 30, also introduce stringent penalties for safety violations — including fines up to Rs 2 lakh, permanent blacklisting, confiscation of equipment, and cancellation of registration or licence, depending on the severity and recurrence of the offence.
Under the new regulations, operators must register with the Department of Tourism and obtain a valid registration certificate before commencing operations. The prescribed fees are Rs 1 lakh per aircraft, Rs 10,000 per tandem pilot per season (October to May 31), Rs 2,500 per solo foreign pilot, and Rs 1,000 per solo Indian pilot, valid for four months.
Only trained and licensed tandem pilots with the required flying hours will be permitted to operate commercially. Operators are also required to furnish indemnity bonds releasing the state government from responsibility for medical or rescue expenses in case of accidents.
The move comes in the wake of recent safety concerns in the aero sports sector.
In January 2025, a fatal parasailing mishap at Keri plateau claimed the lives of a tourist from Pune and her Nepalese instructor after their parasail crashed.
More recently, a video of a parasailing parachute getting entangled in a coconut tree at Varca went viral, prompting tourist police to inspect safety protocols adopted by operators.
Sources said the rules aim to enhance accountability, improve risk management, and ensure that adventure tourism activities in Goa meet international safety and operational standards.
