TAAN elects new executive committee

The 35th annual general meeting (AGM) of the Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN), held on Friday, elected a new executive committee with Ramesh Dhamala as the new president.

The panel led by Dhamala swept the election winning all 17 posts on offer. Dhamala, who garnered 321 votes, defeated his competitor Jangbu Sherpa by 60 votes. Immediate past president Mahendra Singh Thapa and president of TAAN Pokhara Chapter Narayan Sapkota are also in the executive committee. The 23-member executive committee will take complete shape after the newly elected president nominates four members.

The new executive committee will serve for a term of two years.

The AGM was inaugurated by secretary at the ministry of culture, tourism and civil aviation (MoCTCA) Sushil Ghimire.

He also unveiled maps and

promotional DVDs of three trekking trails — Humla-Rara, Rara-Khaptad and Jaljala — in the mid- and far-western development regions.

Speaking at the AGM, immediate past president Thapa said that tourist spending has not increased in line with the growth in tourist arrivals.