Ministerial Delegation Visits Everest Base Camp to Discuss Himalayan Safety and Climate ConcernsSaturday, May 17th, 2025

Kathmandu — A high-level delegation led by Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Badri Pandey, has visited the Everest Base Camp to conduct an on-site inspection of the current mountaineering season.

The team included Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, State Minister for Tourism Arun Chaudhary, Acting Secretary of the Ministry Indu Ghimire, CEO of Nepal Tourism Board Deepak Raj Joshi, Director General of the Department of Tourism Dr. Narayan Regmi, and President of the Nepal Mountaineering Association Nima Nuru Sherpa.

Minister Pandey announced that a major policy dialogue titled ‘Tourism Dialogue’ will be held on May 21 under the leadership of the Prime Minister, focusing on the challenges and opportunities in the Everest region. He emphasized that the voices of the Sherpa community will be reflected in national policies, with mountaineers’ welfare and safety to be addressed in the upcoming Tourism Act, currently under discussion in the National Assembly. He also announced the ‘Summiters Summit’ to be held on May 29, marking International Everest Day.

Home Minister Lekhak recognized Everest and the Sherpa community as symbols of Nepal’s international identity and expressed the government’s commitment to resolving issues in the region. NTB CEO Joshi highlighted the board’s focus on making Himalayan tourism safer, more organized, and globally competitive through collaborative and policy-driven efforts.
Mountaineers and guides raised technical and logistical issues such as lack of digital mapping and poor network access during the climb. In response, renowned climbers Kami Rita Sherpa, Summi Sherpa, and others handed over a 12-point recommendation letter to the government. The ministers assured that the suggestions would be incorporated into upcoming tourism laws, safety strategies, and regional development plans.

This initiative marks a significant step toward long-term, human-centered management of Everest expeditions and a shift in Nepal’s tourism policy approach.

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