Press conference on Nepal Tourism Year 2011 Torch Expedition Mt. Amadablam succeeded - 2 Feb

Press conference for Nepal Tourism Year 2011 Torch Expedition Mt. Amadablam was held on 1 Feb 2011 at Nepal Tourism Board. Chief Guest for the program was Minister for Tourism & Civil Aviation Sharat Singh Bhandari awarded certificates to the successful summiteers of the expedition. Nepal Tourism Year 2011 Secretariat also handed over the certificates of Goodwill Ambassador for Nepal Tourism Year 2011 to all the members of the expedition. A slide show and documentary on the expedition was also shown on the same program. The chairperson of the program and team leader of the expedition NMA President Mr. Zimba Zangbu Sherpa, informed that the expedition team hoisted the flags of NMA and NTY 2011 at the summit of Mt. Amdablam coinciding with the official inauguration of Nepal Tourism Year on 14 Jan 2011 at Kathmandu. The expedition team also lighted firecrackers at the summit of peak on the same day. Government officials Mr. Lila Mani Paudyal, Mr. Laxman Bhatterai and General Leader of the expedition Mr. Zimba Zangbu Sherpa lighted the flame at the base camp of Amadablam. The chief guest applauded the effort of expedition members in promoting Nepal Tourism Year 2011 by organizing a unique expedition and hoped that it would certainly assist in tourism year locally and globally.

IMM Daye celebrated- 5 Feb

NMA organized various programs on the occasion of 8th anniversary of International Mountain Museum (IMM) on 5 Feb 2011. The program began with worshiping program conducted at Lakhang by Lakhang committee headed by Mr. Hari Dhoj Tulachan. IMM was officially inaugurated on 4 Feb 2004.

On the same occasion, IIIrd Climbing Wall Competition (open) was organized at Maurice Herzog Climbing Wall located in IMM premises. The chief gust for the program was Regional Administrator Arjun Bahadur Bhandari. The chief guest awarded the prize money to the winners of the competition. Mr. Deb Bahadur Gurung, Mr. Bijay K C and Mr. Basant Neupane stood Ist, IInd and IIIrd respectively in the men group where as Ms. Anita Rai, Ms. Indra Kala Rai and Ms. Lila Maya Shahi stood I st, II nd and III rd respectively in the women group of the competition. The chief guest also welcomed runner Mr. Ratna Tuladhar, who covered 200km from NMA central office at Kathmandu to IMM Pokhara to promote IMM on the occasion of IMM day.

The second session of the program began with the welcome speech delivered by IInd Vice President Mr. Santa Bir Lama. In the program, former IInd Vice President of NMA Mr. Birkum Pandey handed over some major mountaineering equipments related with Ist ascent of Kanchenungha given by the first Kanchenjungha summiteer, George Band for the display at IMM. Other guests present in the programs were Mr. Tika Ram Sapkota, President- Pokhara Tourism Council, Khagda Bahadur Ranabhat- President- NMA Annapurna Chapter, and Immediate Past President Mr. Ang Tshering Sherpa NMA Advisors Ms. Yanakila Sherpa, Mr. Nawang Dorje Sherpa and Mr. D.B. Koirala were also present in the program. Also present were the tourism related entrepreneurs from Pokhara.

Interaction program "International Mountain Museum: Consultation Workshop"

An interaction program titled International Mountain Museum: Consultation Workshop was also organized at IMM to garner some views and inputs from experts and concerned entreprenuers and institution to formulate directive for the improvement in the display of artifacts and management of IMM. The program was facilitated by IMM advisors- Dr. Lhakpa Sherpa, Mountain Tourism expert and museologist Mr. Jal Krishna Shrestha. The IInd phase of the interaction program will be held in Kathamandu. The report prepared by the facilitators on the basis of views expressed in the program will be used in devising directives of IMM.

The second session of the program began with the welcome speech delivered by IInd Vice President Mr. Santa Bir Lama. In the program, former IInd Vice President of NMA Mr. Birkum Pandey handed over some major mountaineering equipments related with Ist ascent of Kanchenungha given by the first Kanchenjungha summiteer, George Band for the display at IMM. Other guests present in the programs were Mr. Tika Ram Sapkota, President- Pokhara Tourism Council, Khagda Bahadur Ranabhat- President- NMA Annapurna Chapter, and Immediate Past President Mr. Ang Tshering Sherpa NMA Advisors Ms. Yanakila Sherpa, Mr. Nawang Dorje Sherpa and Mr. D.B. Koirala were also present in the program. Also present were the tourism related entrepreneurs from Pokhara.

Certificate distribution - 17 Feb

Certificate distribution was organized at NMA on 17 Feb for 24 participants of Advance Mountaineering Course 2010 / 2011 conducted from 23 December 2010- 31 January 2011 at Kathmandu and Manang. The Chief Guest of the program, Kishore Thapa- Secretary, Ministry of Tourism & Civil Aviation, distributed the certificates to the participants. In the welcome speech by General Secretary Deebas Bikram Shah said that the training will be given continuity in the coming years from now onwards. He informed that the training was stopped for the last few years because of some problems.

Mr. Prem Gurung, Chief Instructor and Mr. Nawang Nima Sherpa, Convener- Training & Expedition Committee shade light on the various aspects of advance mountaineering course. The chief guest appreciated the role of NMA in producing skilled human resources for the development of mountain tourism. Mr. Secretary also shared the plan of Ministry of Tourism & Civil Aviation of providing the authority to NMA of issuing climbing permits for the additional peaks. Finally, Chairperson of the program Mr. Zimba Zangbu Sherpa, informed that the advance mountaineering course was conducted after 2004 and 1627 mountaineers have been trained different mountaineering training by NMA since establishment. He also informed that the training of first batch of Winter Aspirant Mountain Guide Course will complete this month. It indicates that Nepal will be capable in producing Mountain Guide of UIAGM Standard.

IFSC Plenary Assembly- 20 Feb

NMA Central Secretariat Committee decided to nominate the Ist Vice President of NMA Mr. Nima Nuru Sherpa to represent at the Plenary Assembly of International Federation of Sports Climbing to be held in Rome, Italy on 25 & 26 Feb 2011.

Discussion program- 24 Feb

NMA conduct discussion program regarding General Assemblies of Union of International Alpine Association (UIAA) 5-8 Oct 2011 and Union of Asia Alpine Association (UAAA) 9 Oct in the presence of government officials, advisors, tourism experts. The program was intended to garner the inputs and suggestions to make the international gathering of alpinists a grand success in every possible manner.

Financial assistance- 24 Feb

NMA Central Secretariat decided to assist financially by providing Rs. 20,000 Ms. Sabina Sherpa, daughter of late Nuru Wancho Sherpa for her education. He was the member of Dhaulagiri Expedition of 1990 and died while descending from the summit.

Liaison officers endorsed 24 Feb

NMA endorsed five summiteers to work as liaison officers for the coming spring on the basis of recommendation made by the committee composed of Everest Summiteers' Association, Nepal Mountaineering Association, Nepal Mountaineering Instructors' Association and Nepal National Mountain Guide Association. The recommended Everest summiteers are as follows:

Mr. Ang Phurba Sherpa
Ms. Asha Kumari Singh
Mr. Pasang Sherpa
Mr. Dharma Bahadur Rai
Mr. Pasang Tendi Sherpa

Himalayan Guides International Pathivera Marathon and Tourism festival- 24 Feb

On the occasion of Nepal Tourism Year 2011, Himalayan Guides International Pathivera Marathon and Tourism festival is going to be held in Taplezung from 2 - 4 March 2011. NMA has decided to sponsor the first prize money for men and women category of Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 25000 respectively.

Rafting and kayaking training for ladies -24 Feb

Sindupalchok Panchpokhari Tourism Development & Management Committee is organizing rafting and kayaking training from 22 Feb- 7 Mar 2011 for ten unemployed ladies. NMA decided to sponsor the expenses for first aid and publication of certificate.