KATHMANDU, MAY 30

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has strongly advocated for an effective garbage management system to keep Nepal's mountains clean.

Inaugurating the 72nd International Sagarmatha Day and World Summiteers' Summit, last evening, Prime Minister Oli stated, "If climbers are not made mandatory to bring back all the garbage they take to the mountains, it will have a negative impact on our mountains and environment. Therefore, it is important to implement an effective mechanism ensuring that climbers bring back all the waste they carry to the summit."

The Prime Minister also called on the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) to submit recommendations for inclusion in the upcoming revision of the Tourism Act. "The existing tourism act is currently under amendment and is being discussed in Parliament," he added. "Please submit any suggestions you have. The goal of this amendment is to improve the act and make it more tourism-friendly."

NMA President Nima Nuru Sherpa urged the Prime Minister to ensure that the NMA is included in the Tourism Act with responsibilities defined in the existing version. "The NMA has been the driving force behind the celebration of mountain anniversaries and has organized joint expeditions to mark diplomatic milestones between countries," President Sherpa said. "For the past 51 years, we have dedicated ourselves to advancing Nepal's mountain tourism, preserving the cultural heritage of mountain communities, and promoting mountain culture. It is essential for the NMA to continue its work for the betterment of these sectors."

Sherpa also called on the government to take immediate steps for the welfare of mountaineers. "Climbers face life-threatening risks every time they venture into the mountains to support their families, yet there is no provision to compensate their families in case of an accident," he pointed out. "Therefore, the government should consider establishing a welfare fund for climbers to support them during their retirement."

The World Summiteers' Summit, a major gathering of climbers from across the globe, was, jointly organized by Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Department of Tourism, NMA and the Nepal Tourism Board. It provided a remarkable platform for climbers, high-altitude rescuers, researchers, and tourism entrepreneurs to share their stories and insights.

The event also featured a panel discussion on "Climbing for a Cause: Mountaineering as a Platform for Advocacy and Change."

During the session, climbers including Mrika Nikci, Erich Kech, Rescuer Marco Astori, Captain Maurizio Folini, Senior Guide Benjamin Mason Jones, Mountaineer Luo Shen, and Nepali record-holder climber Mingma G Sherpa answered questions raised by moderator Dawa Steven Sherpa.

The second session featured Nepali climbers sharing their untold stories. These included Sanu Sherpa, the first Nepali to ascend all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters twice; Nima Rinji Sherpa, the youngest climber to complete all 14 peaks; Phunjo Lama, the fastest female Everest climber; Mingma David Sherpa; Purnima Shrestha, Dawa Tenzi Sherpa,. Kunjang Chopel Sherpa, and Lakpa Sherpa, all of whom shared their incredible journeys.

During the ceremony, several record-holding climbers were honored. Mingma G Sherpa, the first Nepali climber to summit all 14 eight-thousanders without supplementary oxygen, was honored with the prestigious International Sagarmatha Award.

Writer duo Ankit Babu Adhikari and Pradeep Basyal were presented the Tenzing-Hillary Award for their book Sherpa: Stories of Life and Death from the Forgotten Guardians of Everest. Captain Maurizio Folini and Lhakpa Nurbu Sherpa also received the same award in the Search and Rescue category. Additionally, Nima Rinji Sherpa, the youngest to summit all 14 eight-thousanders, was honored with the same award for this incredible achievement.

Lakpa Sherpa, the female climber with the most successful Everest summits (10 times), was also recognized with the Pemba Doma Women Adventure Award.The award was established after the name of late Pemba Doma Sherpa who is the first Nepalese female mountaineer to climb Mount Everest via its north face, was the second Nepali woman to summit from both the north and south faces. These awards have been conferred by the Department of Tourism based on recommendations from the NMA and other mountain tourism organizations.

Climbers Ang Dawa Sherpa, Chhepal Sherpa, Lhakpa Dorjee Sherpa, Tashi Gyalzen Sherpa, and Dawa Tenzi Sherpa were honored by the Koshi Province Government for their significant contributions to Nepal's mountain tourism.

The NMA also honored its Chief Advisor, Ang Tshering Sherpa, and Advisor Dr. Ganesh Gurung for their decades of dedication to the advancement of Nepal's mountain tourism. The NMA also honored Secretariat Member Rajendra Bahadur Lama for his role in making the World Summiteers' Summit possible.