President of Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) Nima Nuru Sherpa has requested the government's support to further develop the sector. Newly appointed tourism minister Shrestha pledges full support to solve problems in mountaineering sector NMA sought more peaks for management, submit demands to PM Deuba Addressing the 32nd annual general meeting of the NMA here today, which was participated by Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Jeevan Ram Shrestha, Sherpa said that the association has been managing 27 peaks and mountains, and requested the tourism minister to hand over the responsibility of overseeing additional 176 peaks and mountains. "The NMA will promote them in the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) and Union of Asian Alpine Association (UAAA) for the development of mountaineering tourism in the country," he said. In addition, Sherpa suggested the ministry to assist in sponsoring education of the children of people who died while climbing mountains as well as to provide health security to the people who were injured or had become disabled due to accidents in the mountains, among others. During the AGM today, the association made its progress report for the fiscal year 2020-21 and 2021-22 public and discussed the policies and programmes of the fiscal year 2021-22 and 2022-23. Speaking at the meeting, Minister Shrestha emphasised the need of introducing new peaks, adding that more peaks will be opened for mountaineering purposes gradually. "The ministry has moved ahead with plans to allow permits for mountains from 5,800 metres to 8,000 metres by conducting a study on whether they are safe for mountaineering or not. Permits will be granted for mountains which will be deemed safe after the study," he said. Minister Shrestha also expressed his commitment to cooperate with the private sector in the development and promotion of mountaineering as the country's mountains and peaks are an important means of attracting foreign tourists. He said that tourism, which plays an important role in the country's economic prosperity, has become a means of earning foreign currency as well as creating employment opportunities. He shared that Nepal can be developed as a top tourism destination in the world by utilising its adventure tourism prospects. At present, 414 mountains including Everest, the world's highest peak, have been opened for climbing in Nepal. Minister Shrestha said that the government has made a 74-point plan to revive Nepal's tourism sector, which has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and is moving ahead with its implementation. For this fiscal year, the NMA has estimated an expenditure of Rs 170 million and an estimated income of Rs 102 million. Along with the members of NMA, the meeting was also attended by representatives of various tourism-related institutions. A version of this article appears in the print on August 15, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.