The Nepali government is committed to making the country an exemplary destination for sustainable tourism development by promoting mountaineering, a government official said on Monday.

Mountain climbing in Nepal has aroused curiosity around the world after the golden jubilee celebrations of the summit of the world's highest peaks, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Buddhi Raj Bajracharya told reporters.

Nepal has eight of the 14 peaks around the world above 8,000 meters and therefore the best destination for adventure tourism and mountaineering, the minister said.

As the government has adopted a policy to celebrate Golden Jubilee Anniversary of ascending on the Himalayan peaks above 8,000 meters high, the Golden Jubilee of Mt. Qomolangma (8,848 meters) and Mt. Cho-Oyu (8,201 meters) were celebrated successfully in May 2003 and October 2004, respectively.

The celebrations for the world's third highest peak Kanchenjunga and fifth highest peak Makalu have been concluded respectively earlier this month, the minister said.

According to Bajracharya, some 28 percent of the tourists are coming to Nepal for trekking and mountaineering every year.

This year, a total of 22 teams have received permission to climb Mt. Qomolangma, and another 33 teams to climb other peaks in Nepal, he said.

The country earned 110 million rupees (US$1.57 million) last year from 13 such teams, he added.

(Xinhua News Agency May 30, 2005)