Stakeholders must act to prevent skilled mountain guides from leaving Nepal: MP Sherpa

Mingma Gyabu Sherpa, a lawmaker with the Rastriya Swatantra Party and a renowned mountaineer, is calling for urgent action to retain skilled mountain guides and mountaineers in Nepal. He argues that the country risks significant challenges in its vital mountaineering tourism sector if these professionals continue to seek better prospects overseas.

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I am now at a point where we need to change the Tourism Act enacted in 1978. Stakeholders will discuss the Tourism Bill tomorrow.

Speaking at the 25th anniversary of the Everest Summiteers Association in Kathmandu, Sherpa emphasized that the current Tourism Act, enacted in 1978, is outdated and requires replacement. He announced that discussions on a new Tourism Bill are scheduled, and he urged mountaineering organizations and individuals to clearly articulate their concerns and demands. This, he believes, is crucial for ensuring their rights and addressing their problems within the new legal framework.

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If you do not clearly raise your demands for your rights, there will be no justification for remaining in those organisations.

Sherpa advised mountaineers to present their views independently, free from personal interests or political considerations. He stated that focusing on the rights of the mountaineering sector and the future of Nepal's tourism would facilitate the formulation of appropriate legislation. He expressed commitment to resolving issues within the sector, noting the paradox of Nepal possessing abundant mountains yet failing to retain its mountaineering talent, underscoring the necessity of policy-level reforms.

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If you present your views independently of personal interests and politics, focusing on the rights of the mountaineering sector and the future of Nepal’s tourism, it will be easier to formulate the law accordingly.

He warned that a failure to collaborate on protecting the rights of mountaineers and preventing the exodus of skilled professionals could lead to more severe challenges for Nepal's mountaineering and tourism industries. The lawmaker stressed that without clear articulation of demands, organizations representing these professionals would lack justification for their existence.

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We have enough mountains naturally, but we have not been able to retain mountaineers. Therefore, policy-level reforms are necessary in the mountaineering sector.