KATHMANDU: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey asserted that conservation of mountains is the common responsibility of all.
Inaugurating the first-ever International Everest Summiteers’ Summit-2025 here today, Minister Pandey emphasised the need to conserve the mountains and mountain cultures for future generations.
Pandey said, “We are here not only to congratulate those scaling the Sagarmatha but also to honour their courage, dedication and sacrifices.”
On the occasion, he extended special honour to the Sherpa communities, guides, rescue team and everyone who has been tirelessly serving in the Himalayan region, acknowledging their ‘devotion’ in making mountain travel safer, more nature-conscious and more meaningful.
Highlighting the government’s active efforts in the development of infrastructure, training and environmental protection, the Minister reaffirmed that the government was committed towards improving the living standards of the local communities and ensuring prosperity for them alongside promoting mountainous tourism.
Noting that the Himalayas were more than a rocky mountain, Minister Pandey recognised them as a ”bridge of civilisation, culture and co-existence” and thus called for collective efforts to safeguard them.
Expressing concern over increasing threats of global warming and climate change to the mountains, the Minister urged timely climate action.
He expressed his confidence that the gathering of Sagarmatha summiters would inspire ga lobal community to renew their commitment towards mountain conservation.
On the occasion, Minister Pandey honoured several national and international climbers who set their feet atop the highest mountain in the world over different periods.
During the event, Minister Pandey honoured Kanchha Sherpa, who climbed Sagarmatha (Everest) as a part of Edmund Hillary’s expedition team in 1953, with the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’.
Other record-holders Sherpa such as Mingma Sherpa and Hari Bahadur Buda, among others, were also feted.
Also, speaking at the conference, Nepal Tourism Board’s CEO Deepak Raj Joshi said that mountaineering would contribute to the promotion of adventure tourism in Nepal, a country that is home to the highest mountain in the world- Sagarmatha (Mt Everest).
Likewise, Member-Secretary at the National Sports Council, Tankalal Ghising, viewed that the Summit would be useful in establishing Nepal as the hub for adventurous mountain tourism and a land of the ‘Courageous’.
Sagarmatha Aarohi Sangh’s President Dambar Parajuli saw the Summit’s relevance in boosting the morale, prestige and dignity of Sagarmatha summiteers worldwide.
The Everest Alliance Nepal organised the first such event where over than 300 Sagarmatha summiteers from 25 countries are participating.
The conference has brought together summiters from Nepal as well as other countries such as India, China, the USA, Pakistan, the UK, Italy, Norway, Iran, Singapore, Australia, Lebanon, Morocco and the UAE.
Alliance’s President Sudarshan Nepal shared that the event was organised with an objective to promote adventurous tourism in Nepal.
The event also aims to provide a platform for the mountaineers, policy makers, conservationists, tourism entrepreneurs in the mountainous region, trekkers and local communities of the mountain region to collaborate on sustainable mountain tourism, environment protection and uplifting the local communities, explained President Nepal.
One of the major objectives of the event, added Nepal, is to assemble Sagarmatha summiteers in a single forum and share stories of their inspirational journey, struggles and challenges as well as lessons learned by them.
