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Emphasis on the need of international cooperation in preservation and promotion of the mountains, nature and bio-diversity was given by the International Himalaya Tourism Conference 2006 which…
Emphasis on the need of international cooperation in preservation and promotion of the mountains, nature and bio-diversity was given by the International Himalaya Tourism Conference 2006 which took place in Nepal.
Experts in tourism, renowned mountaineers, journalists and intellectuals from Nepal, China, Pakistan, Japan, Austria, Slovenia and other countries took part in the two-day conference organised to mark the International Mountain Day and the golden jubilee of the first ascent to Mt. Manaslu and Mt. Lhotse.
Addressing the concluding session of the conference, the Nepali Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Pradip Kumar Gyawali said as Nepal`s mountains were not only an object of mountain tourism attraction but also the unique culture and civilisation of the mountain people, attention should be paid towards the livelihood of local people in order to ensure their participation in its preservation.
On the occasion, the Tourism Minister also urged foreign mountaineers and intellectuals to spread around the world the message that Nepal has now become a peaceful and safe destination.
Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Madhav Ghimire said emphasis should be given on the rural and eco-tourism for sustainable tourism development.
At the programme, representatives of Alpine Clubs of various countries expressed the view that Nepal`s mountain bio-diversity and natural beauty was an incomparable attraction for the world and pointed out the need of collective and regional cooperation in preserving them.
Prof. Peter Habler, a veteran mountaineer from Austria, who has travelled to Nepal 63 times and climbed all the mountains above 8,000 metres in height in the country, suggested all the mountaineers from across the world to ascend the mountains in Nepal for once.
Mr. Tek Bahadur Dangi, Chief Executive Officer of Nepal Tourism Board said There is tremendous opportunity for the growth of tourism in all spheres, because Nepal`s tourism potentialities and the existing products to some extent have no parallel competitors. The rich cultural and natural diversity stands firmly as an icon to beat most of the competitors.
Others speaking on the occasion were Nazir Sabir, first Pakistani Everest Summiteer and President of Alpine Club of Pakistan, Franc Ecker, President of the Alpine Association of Slovenia, Director General of International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Dr. Gabriel Campbell, and President of Nepal Mountaineering Association Ang Tshering Sherpa who shed light on the specialty of the Nepali Himalayas, ecotourism and village tourism.
The conference was jointly organised by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation, Nepal Mountaineering Association, Nepal Tourism Board and ICIMOD.
At the programme, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Gyawali presented certificates to the participants of the conference.
