In view of the global insurance & rescue firms’ serious note on halting their services, the government decided to bar all local agents of those firms from getting involved in tourism search & rescue operations.

A high-level government panel investigating the issue announced a 15-point Mountaineering and Trekking Search and Rescue Guidelines that proposes a special police force under the Nepal Tourism Board to support mountaineering activities in place of agents.

“The guidelines aim to curb fraudulent activities while conducting search and rescue of tourists, especially foreign trekkers and mountaineers visiting high mountain areas,” says Dandu Raj Ghimire, Director General at the Department of Tourism, Nepal.

According to Ghimire, the proposed guidelines will soon come into force after rounds of consultations with all the related stakeholders.

“None of the agents will be allowed to conduct search and rescue of tourists on behalf of international companies,” he adds.

Under the new guidelines:

• A special rescue and search unit under Nepali police will offer 24/7 support in managing necessary resources, along with helicopter services and high-altitude rescues
• The special unit can also invite private helicopter companies to bid for rescue services that they want to offer tourists in high mountains
• The unit holds authority to mobilize police or army choppers in the absence of private helicopters
• The police welfare fund will be instantly utilized to conduct search & rescue, and will be reimbursed once the payment is made by the insurance companies
• A special monitoring committee under the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Home Affairs will take care of arrangements from fixing prices to validating documents

“Minister, secretary and representatives from different companies are scheduled to meet to finalize the guidelines,” Ghimire said in a statement.

Ghimire expressed hope the new guidelines will put an end to malpractices such a fake insurance claims concerning tourists visiting Nepal.

Also Read: Nepal Tourism Insurance Scam: Global Insurers Warn, Demand Stern Action

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The Academy, under the Tribhuvan University (TU) Nepal, is the first such college in the world offering academic course in mountaineering.

The college has been offering Bachelors in Mountaineering course since it received accreditation from TU on February 7, 2017 and is currently planning to offer post graduate course in Masters of Adventure Tourism soon.

The college, that has been running its classes at Satdobato, is now moving to Solukhumbu, where the instituted has a well-built infrastructure of international standards.

According to TU administrators, the institute has potential to attract foreign students as well and can offer highly-skilled training courses that can contribute to the development of mountain tourism in the country.

“An academic course in mountaineering and other adventure sports was inevitable in the country. We have now established a college that will not only produce human resources for mountain tourism but also convert the whole mountain range into economic powerhouse of the country,” says Educationalist and the academic adviser of the college Ramesh Raj Kunwar.

According to Ridish Kumar Pokharel, Executive Director at the Office of the Planning Directorate (TU), the academy will offer a sound knowledge on the mountaineering and other adventure sports.

Students will have to climb 6,000-7,000 meter tall mountains as part of their assignment in the final semester of the course.

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Now, foreign travelers touring Mount Everest and surrounding region will have to pay Rs 2,000/- per head as an entry fee.

Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality (RM) of Solukhumbu district made this effective from October 1, 2017 for every foreigner visiting the municipality.

With the latest decision, the municipality revoked its existing Trekkers’ Information Management System (TIMS) card.

TIMS card, issued by Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) and Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), will no longer be valid, said the municipality in its public notice yesterday.

Meanwhile, TAAN, in its release, said, “In the meeting, the rural municipality had agreed to not levy any entrance fee for the time being and find an alternative within 45 days. We had agreed to find out an alternative after redefining the constitutional provision regarding fee to be levied on tourists.”

The municipality did not live up to its commitment of postponing the decision, TAAN added.

This decision by the municipality is coming after the RM executive committee meeting on July 9, 2017, wherein, the committee decided to ban the TIMS card system and raise tourist entry fee by itself owing to improper functioning of NTB and TAAN in carrying out tourism promotion works in the region despite collecting the fee.

The post New Entry Fee to Mt. Everest Region Rolled Out appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

Fighting back the physical disability, a British Gurkha soldier Hari Budha Magar has set a new record on September 19, 2017, by reaching Nepal’s 6,476 meter-long Mera Peak, that too in the Autumn climbing season.

“Budha Magar, the resident of Rolpa District, has become the first double above-knee amputee to climb the country’s highest trekking peak in the autumn season,” read an official statement by the expedition organizer.

According to the organizer, this achievement of Budha Magar was part of his training aimed at attempting climb Mt Everest in Spring 2018.

“Life is all about adaptation,” Budha Magar said in response to his achievement. He further informed that all the five members who joined him in the expedition also reached the peak.

The United Kingdom and Nepal based Himalayan Ski & Treks, and US-based Myrmidon Expeditions supported this expedition organized by the Conquering Dreams Mera Peak Expedition.

The owner of Himalayan Ski Trek, Krishna Thapa Magar hailed Budha Magar for being the first double amputee above the knee who made it to the summit till date.

As per the Nepal Mountaineering Association, Mera peak is the highest peak permitted for trekking in Nepal.

According to Thapa Magar, Budha had to bear the majority of his expedition expenses as no corporate sponsors or donors came forward doubting his abilities.

Meanwhile, Lead climbing Sherpa Mingma David informed that Budha Magar would also be the first bilateral, above-knee amputee to attempt to Mt Everest for an expedition in Spring 2018.

Hari Budha Magar served in the British Army for 15 years and was later discharged from the rank of Corporal on medical grounds in 2014 after he suffered injuries while serving in Afghanistan in 2010, where he lost both the legs below the knees.

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Popular Trekking Routes

Trekkers have the option of customizing their treks as per their desire and preferences. While some treks are designed for the best view of the mountains across the country, others are based on the themes of experiencing life in the villages, meditation and yoga classes, healthy living programs and so on. Everest, Annapurna and Langtang regions have been the most popular trekking routes traditionally though Dolpo in the northwest and Kanchenjunga in the east are becoming increasingly popular.

Ideal Period for Trekking

The best time for trekking in Nepal is from March – June and from September – November as the climate is dry and warm during this time.

With proper planning and adherence to safety considerations, trekking in Nepal can turn out to be a joyous and enriching experience for tourists.

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Tourist Link Treks and Expedition Pvt. Ltd invites you to Nepal, where every journey that you take will lead you closer to the wonderland. The company is a Travel and Tour operator in Nepal which fulfils the dreams of adventure lovers. It focuses on every detail when it comes to providing you with the services that you wish. It has been organizing Trekking, Peak climbing, Expedition, Himalayan trip and Tibet and Bhutan Tour as well. The company will assure that there will not be any language problem while trekking with its highly experienced guides.

So, are you ready for an adventurous tour to Nepal!

Event Date and Time:
Date: June 8, 2017, Time: 12 am

Contact Info:
Tourist Link Treks and Expedition
Block No -339, Second floor
Narshing chwok, Thamel
Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel:00977-014249624
Cell:00977-9851268523

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