Kathmandu, June 21 — The Nepal Mountain Leader Association (NMLA) celebrated its ninth anniversary and Nepal’s first International Mountain Leader Day on Sunday, highlighting the growing role of professional mountain leaders in the country’s tourism sector.
During the event held in Maharajgunj, NMLA announced the Mountain Leader Journalism Award to honor journalists and media organizations contributing to the promotion of the mountain leader profession and mountain tourism awareness.
Speaking at the program, NMLA President Dawa Tashi Sherpa said the association has played a key role in professionalizing mountain leadership, enhancing training standards, and securing international recognition. He noted that Nepal achieved a major milestone by obtaining full membership in the Union of International Mountain Leader Associations (UIMLA) in November 2024.
NMLA, in collaboration with the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), trains and certifies International Mountain Leaders. More than 50 internationally certified mountain leaders have been produced in Nepal so far.
Sherpa reaffirmed NMLA’s commitment to strengthening professional mountain leadership and supporting the sustainable development of Nepal’s mountain tourism industry.
