Opinion: Mountain Tourism is Nepal’s Pride and Identity

(Siddharaj Rai)

Kathmandu, 28 May 2025: Nepal is a country rich in social, cultural, linguistic, geographical and ecological diversity. It is full of natural beauty and boasts of varied geography from the Tarai plains to the towering Himalayas. 

The essence of tourism is to visit new places, engage in new activities, explore and understand new topics, and enjoy one's mind. The geographical diversity is a unique identity of Nepal. Geographical diversity has played a significant role in enhancing Nepal's tourism potential and activities.

This diversity has made mountain climbing, which falls under adventure tourism, possible. For this purpose, Nepal is one of the most attractive destinations in the world. Climbing in Nepal holds a significant and appealing place in the overall tourism sector. The Government of Nepal has opened climbing on more than four hundred mountains, including the highest peak, Sagarmatha or Mt Everest, and all eight mountains that are above eight thousand metres tall.

Mountaineering activities in Nepal can be traced back a century. The first attempt to climb Mount Everest was made in 1921, and studies from that period reveal that a route to climb Mount Everest was discovered. The British government formed the first team to attempt climbing Everest, led by Lieutenant Colonel George Mallory and other climbers and surveyors. This team found a route from Tibet to Everest base camp during the spring of 1921 and is recorded to have reached an altitude of nearly seven thousand metres from the Tibetan side of Everest before turning back. This place is now referred to as the North Col.

The successful ascent of Annapurna in 1950 marks the first attempt of humans to scale mountains above eight thousand metres. On May 29, 1953, New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Nepali Tenzing Norgay Sherpa succeeded in setting foot on the world's highest peak, Mount Everest, for the first time. After this, it would not be an exaggeration to say that mountaineering in Nepal attracted global attention. Along with this, the lakes, waterfalls, adventure sports, and natural beauty found in Nepal's Mahabharat and Chure mountain ranges have elevated Nepal's tourism to new heights.

The presence of the world's highest peak, Mount Everest, along with the majestic Himalaya mountain range, has established Nepal as a 'mountain destination.' The mountain ranges are our pride and identity. The tourism industry flourishing in these ranges can quickly provide results for economic improvement. If tourism is developed and flourishes, we can achieve economic prosperity in no time. The national aspiration, 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepalis', put forth by the government can be profoundly supported by the tourism sector. It is believed that as the number of tourists increases, our sources of economic income will grow exponentially. Whether through taking tourists around, providing accommodation and meals, showcasing our art and culture, or selling various products, there are numerous possibilities for significant income generation.

Branding the Himalayas through ecotourism

Branding the Himalayas and building physical infrastructure is the current necessity. We notice that foreign media is also making the activities related to Nepal's mountains main news. Himalayan tourism will be a new option in the future. We believe that Nepal should take advantage of this.

Recently, the number of trekking tourists in Nepal has increased. There is a growing attraction for trekkers in areas like Mount Everest, the Annapurna region, Langtang, Karnali, eastern regions like Kanchanjangha, and around Pokhara and the Kathmandu Valley. To further enrich mountain tourism, we can only achieve the expected economic success if we manage trekking tourism in an organized manner. Trekking tourism respects the activities of tourists that engage in clean recreation and acquire different experiences without affecting local resources. Tourism in the mountainous regions of Nepal is based on natural and cultural heritages. The reality that we have not been able to fully utilize this is before us. The Himalayas and mountains are invaluable treasures of nature. This region is also recognized as a key area of biodiversity.

In recent days, the mountains and peaks are facing significant impacts of climate change. As the impacts of climate change intensify, the Himalayan region of Nepal has experienced the most adverse environmental impacts. Glaciers are melting, snow is disappearing from the mountains, and challenges arise from irregular weather patterns in the mountainous region. There are serious risks to the livelihoods of communities in the hills and nearby areas, along with agriculture, water resources, and biodiversity. The impact of climate change in the mountains can have far-reaching effects on lower and coastal areas. These issues have yet to receive adequate voice and discussion on the global stage.

There has been no much study and discussion on climate change impact in the mountain areas. It is necessary to invest in adequate research. Continuous dialogue on climate change is essential. In this context, our understanding is that the Sagarmatha Sambaad, a multi-stakeholder dialogue, organized by the government from May 16-18 has attempted, to some extent, to highlight the impact of climate change on Nepal's mountains in an international forum. However, with political changes, the perspective on climate change issues also appears to have shifted. This has caused difficulties in bringing Nepal's issues to the discussion at international forums. Instead of raising issues only during occasional forums for seeking economic support, a continuous campaign must be conducted. Based on the facts obtained from research, it is necessary to review how work is being carried out.

Development should be carried out by enhancing and not degrading the nature. Those who speak can raise issues themselves. But we must also voice for nature conservation and protecting the mother Earth. It seems that this subject is today's main responsibility. Keeping this in mind, Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) has organized a photo exhibition on mountain tourism. 

On the occasion of this year's Republic Day, a photo exhibition titled 'Mountain Tourism: Our Pride, Our Identity' has been organized to support Nepal's mountain tourism and augment to the 'Sagarmatha Sambaad' programme. This photo exhibition aims to collect and archive photos clicked by RSS photojournalists, preserve the photos published in RSS bulletins for handing down these invaluable assets to future generations. The photo exhibition provides information about the state and potential of mountain tourism in Nepal and gives information about Nepal's mountains, the mountain lifestyle and activities.

Photos depicting the eight-thousand-meter-high and notable mountains of Nepal, the lifestyle of the people in the Himalayan region, foreign dignitaries who have reached the mountain ranges, tourist destinations in the hilly areas, lakes and ponds have been kept in the exhibition. Journalists from RSS have tried to showcase Nepal's mountain tourism through nearly one hundred photographs taken by them and published in the news agency's bulletins. The photos displayed in the exhibition are merely an effort to highlight the tourism developing in Nepal's mountain and Himalayan regions. 

[The author is the General Manager of RSS]