Alpine Club of Nepal (NMA) Election healing on August 23

The Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), founded in 1973, stands at a crossroads. As the only national alpine body empowered to promote mountain tourism, issue permits, and strengthen mountaineering safety, its leadership plays a vital role in shaping Nepal’s adventure sector. The presidential election, scheduled for August 23, 2025, brings forward two dynamic candidates (Phura Gyaltsen Sherpa and Kul Bahadur Gurung with distinct visions:

Phur Gyaltsen Sherpa

Who he is: Phurba Gyaltsen Sherpa is an experienced Nepali mountaineer from Solukhumbu, with a lifelong dedication to mountain culture. He previously served on the NMA executive committee (1999–2002), including leading its foreign affairs department, and has been actively involved in rescue work and community events. What he proposes:

• Mountain Adventure University: Establish a training institute in Nepal to offer world-class education in mountaineering, reducing the need for study abroad and attracting international students. Training facilities and rescue systems: Develop modern centers in areas like Kongbuche, Thame, Manang, and Porche. - - From local mountain rescue teams for quick response in emergencies. Climbers' Welfare Fund: Strengthen this fund to ensure effective use in rescues and support for climbers, improving coordination with government agencies.
• Climate and conservation: Work closely with local mountain communities to address the environmental impact of climate change, while calling out misuse of climate resources by NGOs.

Kul Bahadur Gurung

Who he is: Kul Bahadur Gurung is a respected senior tourism entrepreneur with nearly four decades in Nepal’s tourism sector. His leadership credentials are solid, and his candidacy was unanimously endorsed by the Nepal Democratic Tourism Entrepreneurs Association. What he proposes:

• Sustainable mountain tourism: Promote tourism practices that protect both the environment and local communities, maintaining a long-term vision for the Himalayas.
• Rights and institutional reform: Prioritize fair treatment of tourism workers and entrepreneurs, and modernize NMA’s governance to be more transparent and accountable.
• Climate resilience and community empowerment: Strengthen NMA’s role in environmental protection and enable Himalayan communities to take leading roles in tourism development.
• Consensus leadership: He supports forming a dialogue committee for stakeholder unity and cooperation in leadership selection. As this pivotal NMA election unfolds, it is rapidly becoming one of Nepal’s most watched tourism developments of the year. Its outcome will determine whether the association aligns more with building domestic training infrastructure and rescue systems, or with promoting sustainable governance and community empowerment, both of which could shift how adventure tourism is managed, experienced, and trusted. Winning strategies now will set the tone for investment, local engagement, safety standards, and Nepal’s positioning as a responsible, inclusive global mountaineering destination.

By Jenifer Neupane