Canada and South Africa are not the only countries where tourism is closely linked with sport. Ahead of Nepal’s Tourism Year of 2011, the Himalayan country is hoping to boost tourism and capitalise on the popularity of Everest Base Camp. Trekking is the major activity in the region, and vital for Nepal’s tourism, with adventure sports set to boost visitors in the coming years.

Sherpa at the Olympics

As I write, the 2010 Vancouver Olympics are in full swing. In the Ice Hockey, the hosts Canada have lost their grudge match with the USA; Amy Williams has won a long-yearned-for gold medal for Britain in Luge, and there have been crashes galore on the slopes. Amid all this drama one of the memorable highlights was a moment of camaraderie from the 15km Free Cross Country event.

When participant Danny Silva of Portugal crossed the line in last place, more than ten minutes behind the field, he was greeted with rapturous applause that he wasn’t expecting. He was carried from the line by fellow competitors, the Ethiopian entrant and Dachhiri Sherpa from Nepal. Their smiling faces made one of the pictorial highlights of the games and captured something of the fabled Olympic spirit. For Dachhiri Sherpa, who finished in ninety-third spot, just participating was achievement enough since he admits he’s not much of a skier.

Everest Marathon

Before taking up the sport, Dachhiri was an endurance runner. In 2002, he won the Himal race, an arduous 23-stage marathon race between Annapurna Base Camp and Everest Base Camp. After that, with the Olympics in mind, he was asked by his government to take up skiing. At that time, he had never been on skis before.

Although there are mountains galore and plenty of snow in the Himalayas, there are no facilities for skiing, which made it particularly difficult for Dachhiri to train. Instead, the focus of the region is the Everest Base Camp Trek trail that runs from the famous Lukla airport (renamed Hilary-Tenzing airport in 2008) to the Base Camp on the side of the world’s highest mountain.

Rather than skiing, Nepal is geared-up to host trekking and long-distance running events such as the Everest Marathon, which the 40-year-old Dachhiri used to run regularly. This is the highest marathon in the world, beginning at an altitude of over 5100 metres above sea level, within sight of Everest and its Base Camp.

Everest Tourism

In the future, Nepal is looking to widen its range of adventure sports. Some companies have made bids to run paragliding flights over Everest Base Camp and sightseeing flights near the mountain. A more outlandish proposition is to have a fixed hot air balloon next to the mountain, presumably to serve as a viewing platform, although I hope the winds around Mount Everest (8,848 m) will be taken into account.

Ahead of the Nepal Tourism Year 2011, there have even been talks with China about reintroducing the Lhasa-to-Kathmandu bus service, a mutually beneficial move to restore a route between Tibet and Nepal. Also, with boosting tourism in mind, the Adventure Sports Tourism Society plans to schedule popular sporting competitions in Nepal such as Mountain Biking and Triathlon events. As well as promoting the Everest Marathon, the Nepal Association of Tour Operators aims to create spectacles such as a sky diving competition with Everest as the focal point.

Some tourism commentators have expressed a concern that Mount Everest may eventually become little more than a theme park venue in the Himalaya. On the other side of the world, in Disneyland, Florida, the Everest Expedition ride has already put this theory into practise. On the ride, theme park goers can explore an imitation Himalayan landscape complete with prayer flags and Sherpa villages before boarding a rickety train to Everest Base Camp. The ride ascends a 200-foot high replica Mount Everest, where the riders have a startling encounter with an angry yeti before hurtling backwards down the mountain: a very faithful representation of the true Everest experience!

Jude Limburn Turner is the Marketing Manager for Mountain Kingdoms, an adventure tour company who have run the trek to Everest Base Camp for over 20 years. They now offer treks and tours worldwide, including destinations in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Central and South East Asia.

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