Govt urges entrepreneurs to promote new peaks

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: The government has urged tourism entrepreneurs to promote new peaks.

“The government has permitted 326 different peaks for climbing, however, tourism entrepreneurs are focused only on a few peaks,” said caretaker minister for culture, tourism and civil aviation Post Bahadur Bogati while addressing the fifth International Mt Everest (Sagarmatha) Day here today.

He also suggested the entrepreneurs to focus on the management and conservation of mountains along with their business promotion. During the programme, Everest summitteer Dawa Steven Sherpa urged the government to develop new routes for Mt Everest expeditions.

“The government should review its existing policies regarding the mountain sector,” he said. According to Sherpa, rather than promote the use of radios by liaison officers at Mt Everest, it has been charging additional fees for the use of radios for communication. He also focused on the availability of liaison officers at the Everest Base Camp. “We need a camp for government appointed liaison officers at the base camp,” he said.

On the occasion of the International Mt Everest Day, Nepal Tourism Board in coordination with the private sector also felicitated people in the mountaineering sector. Bogati awarded Sunar Bahadur Gurung with Tenzing Hillary Award for being the first international Nepali mountain guide.

Similarly, Chuldim Sherpa was felicitated with Pasang Lamu Award. Pradeep Lama was awarded with Pema Doma Sherpa Scholarship award, whereas Dr Hem Sagar Baral and Dr Shastra Dutta Pant were felicitated with Dr Harka Gurung Award.

The government has started celebrating May 29 as the International Mt Everest (Sagarmatha) Day in memory of the first successful ascent of the highest peak of the world Mt Everest — also termed as the third pole by the British — by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgey Sherpa on May 29, 1953. Since then some 3,400 summitters have climbed the peak, whereas some 210 have lost their lives during their attempts.