The 33rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) and election of the Tourist Guide Association of Nepal (TURGAN) concluded successfully on Saturday, electing Prabha Laxmi Pradhananga as the association’s new president. With her election, Pradhananga has become the first woman president in the history of the organization, marking a significant milestone for Nepal’s professional tourist guiding sector.
The newly elected 15-member executive committee includes former president Thaneshwor Devkota as Immediate Past President, Tank Prasad Duwadi as Senior Vice President, Rajendra Raj Bajracharya as First Vice President, and Raghunath Pradhan as Second Vice President. These positions were elected unopposed.
Friendly contests were held only for the positions of General Secretary, Secretary, and Treasurer. Subin Sitikhu was elected General Secretary, Rabin Bhainatwa secured the post of Secretary, and Chan Keshari Koju was elected Treasurer. The seven executive members, all elected unopposed, are Laxmi Giri, Srijana Subedi, Rameshwor Sinkhada, Rishiraj Upadhyay, Harikrishna Silwal, Suman Maharjan, and Rabidas Dong.
Tourism Minister Commits Continued Support
Addressing the inaugural session as the chief guest, Bagmati Province Minister for Culture and Tourism Suresh Shrestha congratulated the newly elected committee and reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to working closely with TURGAN.
Minister Shrestha stated that his ministry would continue supporting the association as it has in the past. Referring to complaints received regarding the licensing of some tourist guides, he urged TURGAN to collaborate with the ministry in addressing such issues effectively. He also emphasized that the provincial government remains committed to partnering with all tourism stakeholders to promote Nepal’s tourism industry and enhance service quality.
Outgoing President Highlights Collective Achievements
Outgoing President Thaneshwor Devkota reflected on his tenure, stating that all achievements made during his leadership were the result of collective efforts by the association’s members and executive team. He acknowledged that while the committee had accomplished several important initiatives, any shortcomings during his tenure were his responsibility. Devkota also expressed his continued commitment to supporting TURGAN’s future development even after completing his term as president.
Tourism Leaders Express Commitment to Cooperation
The AGM was attended by several prominent figures from Nepal’s tourism sector, including Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) President Phur Gelje Sherpa, Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) President Kumar Mani Thapaliya, Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN) President Sagar Pandey, Honorary Consul of Estonia to Nepal Navaraj Dahal, and Kathmandu Valley Tourism Office Chief Pawan Pokharel.
During the event, former TURGAN President Narendra Dev Bhatt, NATTA President Kumar Mani Thapaliya, TAAN President Sagar Pandey, and Kathmandu Valley Tourism Office Chief Pawan Pokharel congratulated the newly elected executive committee and pledged their organizations’ full cooperation in advancing Nepal’s tourism and professional guiding sector through democratic and institutional collaboration.
Veteran Contributors Honoured
As part of the ceremony, TURGAN honoured several individuals for their significant contributions to the growth and development of the association. Those recognized included former presidents and senior contributors Narendra Dev Bhatt, Sabita Khanal, Thaneshwor Devkota, Badri Nepal, Kumud Adhikari, Madhav Raj Shrestha, Surya Deep Prakash Shrestha, Kusheshwor Prasad Joshi, and Yubaraj Pandit.
The event concluded with congratulations to the newly elected leadership and a shared commitment among tourism stakeholders to strengthen Nepal’s professional tourist guiding sector through greater cooperation, institutional development, and sustainable tourism promotion.
