Suman Pandey, Explore Himalaya President and the former Chairman of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter (2013- 2018), has been elected as the Secretary/Treasurer of PATA, the largest international travel association working for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. Mr. Pandey was voted in against his Malaysian counterpart through a virtual voting on 12^th October. The newly appointed Executive Board is led by Chairman Soon-Hwa. As a member of the Executive Board, Mr. Pandey, together with his team, is responsible for developing strategies to support tourism boards across Asia Pacific with focus on post-Covid future and beyond. The new Executive Board members were confirmed at the PATA Annual General Meeting held online on October 14, 2020.

Suman Pandey, the President of Explore Himalaya, CEO of Fishtail Air and Directors of Summit Air, Aloft Kathmandu Hotel & Chhaya Center, is an acclaimed tourism professional with 30 years of experience in Nepali Tourism. Notable for his innovative approach and diverse engagements with specialization in the Himalayan Adventure, he is accredited for his leadership role in various organizations including PATA Nepal Chapter, Nepal Tourism Board, Trekking Agent’s Association of Nepal, Airline Operators’ Association of Nepal etc. He is especially known for his remarkable initiation in various historical events including Everest Skydive (Since 2008), Kala Patthar Cabinet Meeting of Nepal Government (2009), First Himalayan Travel Mart (2017) etc.

Mr. Pandey’s  remarkable contributions in Nepali Tourism is complimented by various accolades including “Suprasidha Gorkha Dakshin Bahu” from the King of Nepal in 2004; “Tourism Icon” by the Nepal Association of Tourism Journalists in 2018; a “Lifetime Achievement Award” by tourism publication Gantabya Nepal in 2017; “Tourism Man of the year” by Gantabya Nepal in 2010; and a “Lifetime Achievement Award” for contributions in tourism by the “American Biographical Institute” (ABI) based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA in 2008, to name a few.

On being elected, Mr. Pandey said, “It is a great honor to have been elected as the new Secretary/Treasurer. My focus will be both on the synergetic management of the team and the continual development of the region’s travel industry. In taking on this role, I commit to work together with the Executive Team, management team and our all members for the responsible growth of PATA and the whole tourism communities.”

We would like to congratulate Mr. Pandey and the newly appointed Team! We wish the Team every success for all the challenges that lie ahead.

Explore Himalaya congratulates Miss Wasfia Nazreen from Bangladesh on completion of her Climbing Course and for trekking upto Island Peak located in the Khumbu Region of Nepal from 17th November to 4th December 2010. After the completion of her climbing course, Ms. Nazreen climbed Island Peak (6173m) and was able to reach upto 5890m. before she had to descend due to bad weather. Her expedition and climbing course was arranged Explore Himalaya.

Island Peak Climbing

Fishtail Air & Air Zermatt pull off yet another difficult rescue operation

On Monday, 26th April, Fishtail Air & Air Zermatt’s rescue team evacuated seven members of a Korean expedition team from Mt.Manaslu(8,163m).The team comprising of pilot Capt. Sabin Basnyat, and rescue specialists from Air Zermatt, Richi Lehner and Dany Aufdenblatten left Kathmandu at 6:30 AM for Manaslu Base Camp. From above the Base Camp, the team saw, four people at Camp 2 at 6,200 meters and three people at about 200 meters away, moving slowly towards the camp. The rescue team took four rotations to rescue the very exhausted and frostbitten Korean Climbers and Sherpas. After arriving at a stopover, a second helicopter flew the rescued climbers to Kathmandu, while Dany, Sabin and a cameraman from Swiss TV ( who was recording for a documentary), went back to look for the remaining two climbers. They finally spied the lifeless body of one climber at an altitude of 7000 meters in a flank. The body of the other climber could not be located. Due to the height and steep terrain the body of the dead climber could not be recovered.

Explore Himalaya is participating in the 29th edition of FITUR, an international trade fair held in Madrid, Spain from 28th January to 1st February 2009. FITUR allows exhibitors and visitors to establish new strategies, promote their destinations and products and perform different marketing activities to reach the entire distribution channel. More than 13,000 companies from 170 countries/regions will be promoting their products and establishing business contacts at this fair.

Explore Himalaya will be exhibiting its products at Pabellón 6, stand number 6B01.