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    Nepal Mountaineering Association awards Jean Coudray and Willie brothers

    September 17, 2012
    Nepal News
    Nepal Mountaineering Association awards Jean Coudray and Willie brothers

    By TBN Reporter—

    Kathmandu: Nepal Mountaineering Association has awarded US citizens Gullermo Benegas( Willie) and Damian Benegas with Kumar Khadga Bikram Adventure Award and late Jean Coudray of France with Dr. Harka Gurung Mountain Award.

    Likewise, News Editor Raju Silwal of Nepal Television has been awarded with Dawa Norbu Mountain Tourism Journalism Award for the year 2011.

    Gullermo Benegas (Willie) and his brother Damian have been instrumental in helping Sherpas each year to keep Nepal Himalayas safer. The two brothers not only are committed to educate climbers, but they volunteer their expertise to rescue mountaineers at Everest region and other Himalayas.

    Late Jean Coudray, retired professor at Ecole Nationale Ski et Alpinisme – ENSA, contributed a lot to produce skilled and professional mountain guides. An ardent lover of Nepal, Coudray contributed to promote Nepal in France and other parts of the world since his first visit of Nepal in 1972. Jean Coudray was honoured with Mountain Award posthumously.

    Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Posta Bahadur Bogati presented these awards at inaugural ceremony of 23rd Annual General meeting of the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA).

    Minister Bogati underlined the need to promote mountains for achieving economic prosperity through tourism development.”The MoCTCA is studying the proposals of NMA for permission of the additional 23 peaks for mountaineering “, he added.

    The NMA Peaks Profile and website of International Mountain Museum (www.internationalmountainmuseum.org)was launched on the occasion.
    Similarly, WWF International President’s Award winner Dawa Steven Sherpa, different instructors and top 10 trekking agencies were honoured for their contribution to the mountain tourism in Nepal.

    Zimba Zangbu Sherpa ,President of NMA , highlighted different plans and programmes for promoting mountain and adventure tourism in Nepal.He urged the government to give permission to issue climbing permits to additional 23 peaks in the country.NMA, established on November 1, 1973, issues climbing permits to 33 peaks not exceeding 6,000 metres.

    On the occasion, General Secretary of the association Deebas Bikram Shah presented plans and programs and treasurer Ms. Asha Gurung presented estimated budget for fiscal year 2069/70.

    NMA Ist Vice President Nima Nuru Sherpa, 2nd Vice President Santa Bir Lama , HRA President Santa Subba and member of award selection committee Ramesh Tiwari expressed their views on various aspects of mountain tourism and the association.

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