LUKLA (SOLUKHUMBU), Oct 28: The first edition of the "Everest Tourism Award 2024" is set to be held with the slogan "Save the Himalayas for Sustainable Tourism."
At a press conference held Sunday at Kalapathar (5,653 meters), located at the base of Mount Everest, chairperson Satyakala Tamang Lama of the organizing company AMS Music and Entertainment Pvt Ltd, announced that the award ceremony will be held in Kathmandu this December.
She stated that individuals and organizations from national and international sectors who have made significant contributions to the development, promotion, and marketing of the country’s tourism sector will be honored and awarded based on evaluations. According to her, a total of 40 to 50 categories will be awarded.
Chairperson Lama said that the awards program will also feature performances by national and international artists. According to her, an evaluation and selection committee comprising relevant experts has already been formed for awarding.
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She explained that the press conference was held at Kalapathar to draw the global community's attention to the effects of climate change, which have impacted the mountainous region in recent years, thereby also affecting the tourism sector.
“This is possibly the first press conference held at an altitude of 5,653 meters. From here, we hope to raise global awareness about the impacts of climate change,” said Chairperson Tamang.
The company's Managing Director, Phurba Gyalbo Moktan (Thupten), emphasized that the mountainous region is the most affected by climate change and stressed that action to protect the mountains should not be delayed.
"Climate change is having a significant impact, especially on the country's tourism sector. Snow is starting to disappear from the mountains, turning the white peaks into dark hills. If we cannot save this region, we cannot save the tourism sector," he said. "Through this press conference held on Sunday, we want to deliver this message to the global community."
Managing Director Moktan mentioned that due to the effects of climate change, glaciers that have been frozen for centuries are beginning to break, extreme weather patterns with excessive and reduced rainfall are occurring, and natural disasters like floods and landslides are on the rise.
Tourism entrepreneurs, social workers, and central president of the Star Youth Club, Namgel Sherpa from Lukla, stated that this region is the most affected by climate change. He said, “In November of last year, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres visited this area and committed to raising global awareness about the impact of climate change. This year, we, the people of Khumbu, have raised our voices on this issue.”
Mountaineer Mingma Tenji Sherpa, who has been working in the Himalayas for 17 years, noted during the press conference that the effects of climate change have started to become visible in the mountainous region.
"I can see a significant difference between when I started working in 2007 and the current situation. Climate change has made the weather unstable. Recently, a major disaster occurred in the Thame area of Khumbu; while we used to climb on snow, now we have to climb on rocks and dirt. Therefore, it is essential to draw the world's attention to preserving the mountains and mitigating the effects of climate change," he said.
It was announced at a press conference held on Sunday that AMS Music and Entertainment is organizing the award in collaboration with senior tourism entrepreneur Mingma Dorje Sherpa and tourism entrepreneur and climber Mingma Sherpa. The company has stated that it has been organizing various events both domestically and internationally. So far, the company has conducted events in Japan, the Maldives, and Dubai.
