May 29: International Everest Day

Today, the world is celebrating International Everest Day. This day commemorates the historic event when humans successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest (8,848.86 meters), the world’s highest mountain, for the first time. Although there had been numerous attempts since the early 1920s, Mount Everest was first successfully summited on May 29, 1953, by Sir Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa of Nepal. They were the first humans to reach the highest point on the planet.

Following this historic ascent, Mount Everest captured the attention of adventure seekers from around the world. It became a place where people could test the limits of their physical and mental endurance. The successful conquest of Everest also marked the beginning of Nepal’s modern tourism industry.

History of International Everest Day

In 2008, the Government of Nepal formally declared May 29 as International Everest Day following the death of Sir Edmund Hillary. International Everest Day was established to pay tribute to Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, along with the many brave climbers who have followed in their footsteps. The day also symbolizes the extraordinary capabilities of human beings—strength, perseverance, resilience, endurance, and bravery—that can turn the seemingly impossible into reality.

Importance of May 29 in Nepal’s Economic Development

Nepal occupies the central Himalayan range and includes about one-third of the Himalayas, encompassing eight of the ten highest mountains in the world. The country is vertically divided into three geographical regions, with the Himalayan region accounting for approximately 15 percent of its total area.

Given this, the development of tourism in the Himalayan region is crucial for supporting the economy of a country like Nepal. Until the early 1950s, Nepal’s Himalayan region remained largely untouched by foreigners. However, following the first successful ascent of Mount Everest, the country’s tourism industry experienced significant growth. Everest and its base camp quickly became one of the prime attractions for adventure seekers and trekkers from around the world. Gradually, tourism began to flourish throughout the entire Himalayan region of Nepal.

Therefore, May 29 holds special significance in Nepal’s tourism history, as it marks the beginning of the country’s modern tourism industry. Today, tourism has become a vital pillar of the Nepalese economy, contributing approximately 6.7 percent to the nation’s GDP.