KATHMANDU: Various programs are being held today to mark Everest Day, commemorating the historic achievement of scaling the world’s highest peak.
The day is observed every year in memory of May 29, 1953, when New Zealand mountaineer Edmund Hillary and Nepal’s Tenzing Norgay Sherpa successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest for the first time.
Mount Everest is not only a mountain for Nepal but also a symbol of national pride, tourism development, and international identity. According to the Department of Tourism, more than 8,000 climbers have successfully summited Everest. Eight of the world’s 14 highest peaks are located in Nepal.
Following a joint remeasurement by Nepal and China in 2021, the height of Mount Everest has been officially determined at 8,848.86 metres.
On the occasion of the day, government agencies, tourism entrepreneurs, mountaineering organisations, and local bodies have organised programs focused on mountain tourism, safe climbing, and environmental protection.
Stakeholders have stressed the need to prioritise mountain conservation, as climate change is leading to glacier melt, increasing the risk of glacial lake outburst floods, and causing wider environmental impacts in the Himalayan region.
Mountain tourism remains a key pillar of Nepal’s economy, employment, and foreign exchange earnings. Thousands of tourists and mountaineers from around the world visit Nepal every year. Everest climbing has played a major role in placing Nepal prominently on the global tourism map.
On this occasion, the Nepal Mountaineering Association has stated that coordinated efforts from all stakeholders are essential for the sustainable conservation, cleanliness, safety of expeditions, and protection of the livelihoods of local communities in the Himalayan region.
Comment