Mountain guides demand social security

The mountain guides have asked the government to ensure social security for them.
While marking the 14th National Mountain Guide Day here today, they said that the mountain guides are the backbone of the climbing industry and the government must work for their betterment.
President of Nepal National Mountain Guide Association Ang Norbu Sherpa said that mountain guides are often low-paid and also there is no guarantee of social security. “The guides always risk their lives to support the expedition members so their contribution to the climbing industry must be honoured,” he said, adding that mountain guides worked for the welfare and safety of climbing members but the concerned stakeholders have not increased their investment in them.
On the occasion, the association also awarded certificates to five new IFMGA mountain guides and four aspirant guides, who successfully completed the 11th batch of NNMGA course in 2019.
Tourism secretary Kedar Bahadur Adhikari, director general at the Department of Tourism Dandu Raj Ghimire and association president Sherpa jointly awarded certificates to 11 guides, who completed the level IV of the National Skill Testing Board exams under CTEVT. “The association is committed to providing necessary trainings to produce trained manpower, provide quality service and minimise risks relating to mountaineering,” Sherpa said, adding that the association has also inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) for five years to jointly conduct mountain and aspirant guides training courses. “The Aspirant Guide Course, which consists of three components spread over a span of 10 months, incorporates a total of 47 training days.”
It is the first step to pursue advanced International Mountain Guide – IFMGA – he said, adding that after completing two years in the guiding field, aspirant guides can take IFMGA exam by fulfilling additional criteria. “Two trekking peak ascents, one expedition style ascent with at least two camps in altitude and eight days of ascents – without clients – on all type of terrain are other criteria for aspirant guides to take part in IFMGA course. “The association had launched aspirant guide training in 2007 while the first batch of international mountain guide graduated in 2009.”

One-day training for guides concludes

Korea Tours and Trekking Operator Association Nepal (KTTOAN) organised a-one-day training on Korean etiquette, high-altitude sickness, first-aid and rescue for guides and assistant guides here today.
Organised with the support of the South Korean Embassy in Kathmandu, the training was jointly inaugurated by ambassador of South Korea to Nepal Park Young-sik, chief executive officer of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) Deepak Raj Joshi and KTTOAN president Amar Bahadur Shahi.
Altogether, 55 participants from different travel trekking companies benefitted from the training programme, according to a press release issued by the South Korean embassy in Kathmandu.
Addressing the inauguration, Korean envoy Park said that the number of Korean tourists visiting Nepal will exceed 37,000 this year. Hoping that the training will help ensure the safety of tourists, he said that Nepal is mostly known for its Himalayas and mountains in Korea. “Because of this perception, Korean visitors come here mainly for trekking.”
But accommodation facilities and food should be upgraded to attract more Korean tourists,” he added, asking to promote Lumbini in South Korea. “Lumbini could be yet another attraction and major tourist destination among Korean tourists.”
On the occasion, Joshi said that NTB is always ready to work together with KTTOAN for tourism promotion, as Korea is a major market for Nepal. Requesting the South Korean government to extend support to Nepal for tourism promotion in Korea for making the upcoming Visit Nepal Year 2020 campaign a success, he said that more tourists from South Korea will visit Nepal in the days to come.
Welcoming the guests, Shahi hoped that the training will minimise the risk of casualties and ensure safe travel.
Calling on NTB to join hands with KTTOAN for organising tourism promotion programmes in South Korea for better performance and results, he said that the number of South Korean tourists visiting Nepal has been increasing considerably over the past five years.