KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation appointed five new members to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) on Tuesday. According to Minister Khadak Raj Paudel, the newly appointed board members are:

• Dr. Sovita Shrestha Dhakal — Health/Wellness Tourism
• Pemba Sherpa — 8K Expeditions
• Khum Bahadur Subedi — Former President, TAAN (Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal)
• Santosh Pokharel — Hotel Entrepreneur, Pokhara
• Srijana KC — IT and Wellness Tourism Expert

A recommendation committee formed by the Ministry evaluated over 1,100 applications and shortlisted 10 candidates, from which five members were selected through a ministerial-level decision. The newly appointed members will serve a three-year term.

The selection committee was chaired by Ram Krishna Lamichhane, Director General of the Department of Tourism, with Arvind Kumar Jha and Purna Kumar Sherpa serving as members.

Under NTB's structure, the board comprises five members from the private sector alongside five ex-officio government members.

Among the new appointees, Pemba Sherpa brings nearly 15 years of experience in Nepal's tourism industry. Born in the Makalu valley, he has worked on numerous expeditions and treks in a management capacity and has taught at a tourism-focused educational institution in Kathmandu.

He previously served as General Manager at a leading trekking agency in Nepal, where he was responsible for planning, organizing, and supervising company-run trips, with a particular focus on traveler safety and service quality. He is currently a director at 8K Expeditions.