KATHMANDU: The upcoming presidential election of the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), a key institution in Nepal’s mountain tourism sector, is set to see a contest between seasoned tourism professionals.

Among those who have filed their candidacy so far are Thakur Raj Pandey, the current Senior Vice President of NMA and former General Secretary, and Furba Gyaljen Sherpa, a seasoned tourism entrepreneur from Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality-3, Solukhumbu.

Pandey, originally from Dhading, has decades of experience in mountain tourism and is considered a veteran in the sector. Sherpa, meanwhile, brings long-standing expertise in trekking and mountaineering through his trekking company and years of contribution to Nepal’s mountain tourism industry.

According to NMA, the election for positions under Article 16(1)(Ka) of the NMA Election Bylaws will be held on Saturday, 23 August, while elections for posts under Article 16(1)(Cha) are scheduled for Sunday, 24 August at the Nepal Academy, Kamaladi, Kathmandu.

Established in 1973, the Nepal Mountaineering Association is a non-governmental, non-profit alpine club that promotes mountaineering, mountain tourism, and environmental conservation. It is the only authorized body to issue climbing permits for 27 designated trekking peaks across Nepal.

Often described as the institutional backbone of Nepal’s mountain tourism industry, NMA’s leadership plays a crucial role in shaping policies, promoting Himalayan travel globally, and addressing the challenges of sustainable mountaineering. The upcoming presidential election is expected to be closely watched, given its importance to the future direction of Nepal’s mountain tourism sector.