The 49th NMA (Nepal Mountaineering Association) day is celebrated today with various activities. In a formal program organized at NMA Secretariat Nagpokhari Naxal, representatives from various tourism umbrella organizations extended their best wishes.

A group of 5 tourism experts and tourism entrepreneurs Kumar Khadga Bikram Shah, Tshering Tenjing Lama, Nityaman Sing Pradhan, Tek Chandra Pokhrel and Shambhu Tamang established NMA on 1st November 1973 to promote mountain tourism, preserve the mountain environment and cultural heritage of mountain people. NMA has been celebrating its birthday as an NMA day every year on 1st November.

NMA, since its establishment, has actively been working for the promotion of mountain tourism, preserving the mountain environment and cultural heritage of the Mountain people of Nepal. NMA is also supporting the Government of Nepal as a technical wing for mountaineering and rescue. It has also been managing 27 peaks in Nepal with the authority of the Government of Nepal.

NMA has strengthened its international relations as a full member association of UIAA (International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation) and founding member of UAAA (Union of Asian Alpine Association).

On the occasion of NMA day, an NMA flag was hoisted at NMA premises and a celebration cake was sliced by all the guests.

Honorary Member of UIAA and also Chief Advisor of NMA Ang Tshering Sherpa remembered all the founder members, contribution of Dr. Harka Gurung and extended his gratitude to them.

‘‘Nepali tourism sector was regulated from Darjeeling of India at the beginning. These founder members later established NMA and started to work for the promotion of Nepali tourism. Late Dr. Harka Gurung has contributed much in this initiation’’, Sherpa Said, ‘‘Without their contribution, Nepali tourism would not be where it is today. I would like to thank them for doing all this for us and Nepali mountain tourism.’’

He also urged all the tourism entrepreneurs to work collectively for reviving Nepali mountain tourism.

‘‘Nepali mountain tourism has been continuously attacked by various natural calamities including COVID-19 and Dengue. We have a big challenge to revive Nepali mountain tourism’’, also a former president of NMA Sherpa said, ‘‘We would like to urge all the tourism entrepreneurs to work collectively for the revival and promotion of Nepali mountain tourism.’’

President of Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) Nil Hari Bastola suggested that the NMA celebrate its Golden Jubilee next year with programs to revive Nepali mountain tourism.

‘‘I hope you have already planned and prepared programs for the NMA golden jubilee. However, I wish to suggest you prepare any programs that could help us to revive Nepali mountain tourism,’’ extending his best wishes on behalf of all the tourism umbrella organizations president Bastola added, ‘‘TAAN is ready to support any proposal put forth for the betterment of Nepali tourism.’’

Extending their best wishes, the Director of the Mountaineering department under the Department of Tourism Yubaraj Khatiwada and Deputy Superintendent of Tourism Police Suganda Shrestha also expressed their wish to collaborate with NMA for the revival of Nepali mountain tourism.

UIAA Management Committee Member and also former General Secretary of NMA Kul Bahadur Gurung, UIAA Mountain Protection Commission member and also advisor of NMA Dr. Ganesh Gurung, Former President Mr. Tashi Jangbu Sherpa, advisor Bikram Pandey along with representatives of various tourism umbrella organizations graced the event.

Immediate Past President Santa Bir Lama had welcomed and Acting President Thakur Raj Pandey had thanked all the guest. The program was facilitated by Acting General Secretary Dhan Bahadur Gurung.