Nepal will soon be making it mandatory for all climbers headed to Mount Everest to carry an electronic chip that would be helpful in rescue in case of any emergency at the world’s highest peak.
The government will soon be formulating a rule for making such a chip mandatory starting from Spring this year when the climbing season starts for Mt. Everest with the opening of the narrow window available to climb extremely high altitudes.
Thousands of climbers from all over the world, including India and Nepal, are attracted to the 8,849 metres (29,032 feet) high Mt Everest, a.k.a. Sagarmatha in Nepali. While scores of them do reach the summit, some either lose their lives or are seriously injured during the ascent or descent.
Since 1953, 300 persons have lost their lives, according to Nepal government data. In the 2023 Spring season, till May 22, Nepali officials said, as many as 12 climbers, including four Nepalese, one Indian, and one Chinese, died during their respective expeditions to Mt Everest.
The Everest base camp is situated at an altitude of 18,000 feet. Any search and rescue operation from the base camp onwards to the Summit becomes a tedious job because of the snow storms, avalanches, and other extreme weather events.
The Arunachal Pradesh government is developing the escape trail of the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, from where he entered India, into a spiritual and religious tourism circuit. Little-known Lumla in western Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang district would soon be on the national tourism map.
“All the climbers to Everest would be provided the electronic chip by the government after paying a certain amount. It will be fitted in the climber’s jacket,” Rakesh Gurung, Director at the Department of Tourism told PTI.The chips would cost around USD 10 to USD 15, he said.
According to Gurung, the chip will help make the expeditions safe and facilitate emergency rescue operations.
Some reputed climbing agencies have already provided the electronic chips to their climbers, Gurung said.
[ad_2]
Source link
Kerala Tourism is hosting an event during the third edition of Beypore International Water Festival (BIWF) to spotlight the country’s diverse handicraft heritage, aligning with the state’s push for sustainable and inclusive tourism.
The Responsible Tourism and Textile Art Festival, to be inaugurated by Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas, will run until December 30. It’s a showcase of art and craft traditions spanning 17 Indian states, featuring pottery, weaving, dress-making, and more—cherished skills passed down through generations.
Organised by Kerala’s Responsible Tourism Mission, the festival not only highlights Kerala’s esteemed handloom industry but also offers live demonstrations where artisans from various states display their crafts, fostering cultural exchange and appreciation.
“The craft festival has been conceived as an added feature to the Beypore international water festival when the ancient port town of Malabar is all set to emerge as a global tourism hub,” Riyas noted.
“Leveraging the fabulous handloom, handicraft, agricultural and cuisine traditions of different states of the country is important for responsible and sustainable tourism promotion. Apart from displaying a wide variety of textile traditions, the festival will have live demonstrations of the art and craft,” added RT Mission State Coordinator K. Rupeshkumar.
These include pictorial embossment, dyeing, textile printing, making of decorative clothes like tapestries and display of different types of handlooms and spinning equipment used by craftspeople from various states and sub-regions.
The expo will also have a wide range of items on sale: tourist souvenirs and agricultural as well as food products from various units of the State RT Mission — at affordable prices. Planned as an upfront initiative, the event will have conversations and workshops on preserving the craft traditions and leveraging them for promotion of tourism which will benefit the local communities, Rupeshkumar said.
While the Homestay and Caravan Tourism Policies have taken centre stage already, the state government is gearing up for the introduction of additional policies such as agro-eco tourism, wellness, and adventure, focusing on attracting investments while ensuring transparency and regulation in the tourism landscape. The Minister for Tourism, IT, E&C and Printing and Stationary, Rohan Khaunte shared all and more with ETTravelWorld. Read here.
A section on Kerala’s agricultural products at the expo, planned in association with Agrifarm Tourism Network units, will showcase an assortment of organic food products and spices, besides promoting the Village Experience packages from different districts. According to an official update, the entire spectrum of travel and tourism stakeholders including HATS, women RT clubs and adventure tourism agencies have extended their support to the event. Today also marks the inauguration of the highly anticipated Beypore International Water Festival (BIWF) by the Tourism Minister Riyas. This event is poised to attract global attention with its lineup of competitive water sports featuring participants from various countries, enhancing its international appeal.
Joining this festival are representatives from states such as Tamil Nadu, Assam, Karnataka, Gujarat, Telangana, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Puducherry, Odisha, Maharashtra and Jharkhand, amplifying the diversity and scale of this gathering.
BIWF, organised by the Department of Tourism in collaboration with the District Administration and District Tourism Promotion Council, strategically unfolds across prime locations like Beypore Marina Beach, Chaliyam Beach on the Chaliyar River banks, Nallur, and Beypore Port. The festival extends its reach to key spots like Kozhikode Beach, strategically aiming to draw both local and international business interest.
The festival launch commences with a bicycle rally from Kozhikode Beach to Beypore Beach at 7 am on December 26. It will also feature an array of cultural showcases, a sizable food festival, engaging adventure sports activities, and exclusive access to Navy and Coast Guard vessels.
The event roster boasts an international kite fest engaging participants from five countries, dinghy boat races, flyboard demonstrations, surf ski displays, flea markets, paramotoring, sailing regattas, and net throwing, among other activities.
[ad_2]
Source link