Govt to open 23 new peaks for expedition

To mark the diamond jubilee of the ascent of Mt Everest on May 29, the government is all set to open 23 new peaks. After a series of lobbying by tourism entrepreneurs, the government has finally decided to open 23 new peaks to promote mountain tourism and to create new destinations.

“We are quite excited with the government’s decision to open 23 peaks that were proposed by Nepal Mountaineering Association,” said immediate past president

of Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) Ang Tshering Sherpa. NMA had proposed to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation to open 23 different peaks that are in demand to promote tourism.

“We are working in close coordination with NMA to complete the report of the new mountains that we are preparing to open on the occasion of the diamond jubilee celebration of the ascent of the highest peak in the world,” said under secretary at Tourism Industry Division Surendra Sapkota.

The division is also going through applications from various regions that have requested the government to open certain summits for expeditions.

Tourism Industry Division had received a list of applications requesting it to open restricted peaks to create new destinations for tourists who arrive for mountain and adventure tourism.

source: The Himalayan TImes, 26 feb 2013