Celebration of 40th World Tourism Day – September 27

On the occasion of 40th World Tourism Day Ministry of Culture Tourism and Civil Aviation organized a morning procession on 27th September 2019 starting from Karmachari Sanchaya kosh Building and concluded at NTB. The main theme of this program was "Tourism and Jobs: a Better Future for All". Representatives from MoTCCA, Nepal Tourism Board(NTB), Nepal Mountaineering Association(NMA) and representatives from different tourism related organization participated in the program. On the special occasion of World Tourism Day NMA's International Mountain Museum (IMM) offered the free entrance for first 5 foreigners.

29th Central Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) – September 28

The 29th Central Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) was held on 28th September 2019 at Alice reception. Hon’ ble Minister for Communication and Information Technology Mr. Gokul Prasad Banskota was the chief guest of the program. Dr. Chandra Bhandari, Central Member of Nepali Congress, Dr. Ganesh Gurung, Executive Chairman of Policy Research Academy, Mr. Dandu Raj Ghimire, Director General of Department of Tourism, government officers, advisors of NMA, representative from different tourism related organization and general members were also present in the program. The program observed one-minute silence in memory of the demise of known and unknown mountaineers. After the welcome speech delivered by NMA President Mr. Santa Bir Lama, Chief Guest for the program inaugurated the program by lighting up panas and watering on the plants.

The chief guest felicitated the following top ten associate members (Trekking Agencies) for issuing the highest numbers of climbing permits for NMA peaks during fiscal year 2075/076

- Himalayan Ecstasy Nepal Treks and Expedition

- Adventure Everest Team Trek & Expedition

- Snowy Horizon Treks & Expedition

- Mountain Monarch Adventure

- Summit Nepal Trekking

- Thamserku Trekking

- Gravity Himalayan Excursion

- Himalayan Guides Nepal Treks & Expedition

- Asian Trekking

- Satori Adventures

Mr. Nima Nuru Sherpa, Convener of Award Selection Committee briefly introduced selection criteria and declared the respective name for Kumar Khadga Bikram Shahashik Award, Dr. Harka Gurung Mountaineering Award and Dawa Norbu Mountaineering Tourism Journalism Award. Chief guest of the program handed over Kumar Khadga Bikram Shahashik Award to Ms. Dawa Yanzum Sherpa, Dr. Harka Gurung Mountaineering Award was given to late Ang Tshering Sherpa (Posthumous) and Dawa Norbu Mountaineering Tourism Journalism Award was given to Bharat Bandhu and Julie Gurung. On the same occasion, chief guest handover letter of appreciation and cash prize of Rs. 1,00,000/- to Mr. Lhakapa Norbu Sherpa for his continuous involvement as instructor in the training program of NMA since decades. In the same program, mountaineer titled snow leopard Mr. Ang Rita Sherpa was also supported with Rs. 1,00,000/- for his record in the field of mountaineering. NMA staff Mr. Pushpa Raj Dhakal was awarded with Employee of the year 2018.

The first session of AGM concluded with the remarks from Mr. Dandu Raj Ghimire, Director General of Department of Tourism, Dr. Chandra Bhandari, Central Member of Nepali Congress, chief guest Mr. Gokul Prasad Banskota Hon’ble Minister for Communication and Information Technology and vote of thanks by NMA 1st Vice President Mr. Deebas Bickram Shah. In the second session of the meeting, General Secretary Mr Kul Bahadur Gurung and Treasurer Sudarshan Neupane presented the progress report, financial statement of the fiscal year 2075/2076 with the annual program with budget for the fiscal year 2076/2077. The general members deeply discussed in the presented programs and budget and questioned General Secretary, Treasurer on the matters related with the budget. After thorough discussion, the general meeting endorsed all the plan-programs and budget. Finally, Secretary Mr. Tika ram Gurung thanked all the general members for their presence and assistance in approving the policy, programs and budget for the fiscal year 2076/2077.