Explore Himalaya President and the former Chairman of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter (2013-2018), Suman Pandey, has been elected the Secretary/Treasurer of PATA.
Pandey, who was representing Nepal, was voted in against
Faeez Fadhilillah of Malaysia through online voting conducted by PATA on October
12.
Vietnam’s Hai Ho of Vietnam was elected Vice-chair in the
same election against Sokhom Thok of Cambodia.
Soon Hwa Wong, Present Vice Chairman of the Committee, shall
be serving as Chairman of new Executive Committee, as per the constitution of
PATA.
Suman Pandey is the President of Explore Himalaya, CEO of
Fishtail Air, and Director of Summit Air, Aloft Kathmandu Hotel & Chhaya
Center. He has 30 years of experience in Nepali tourism and is accredited for
his leadership role in various organizations including PATA Nepal
Chapter-Chairman, Nepal Tourism Board-Executive Board Member, Nepal Tourism
Year 2011-Executive Board Member, Trekking Agent’s Association of
Nepal-President, and Airline Operators’ Association of Nepal-General Secretary,
among others.
Pande previously worked for the introduction of High Altitude rescue technology in the Nepal Himalaya and also led the “Crisis Management and Tourism Recovery Action Plan” team under PATA support after the 2015 earthquake. He has contributed to various historical events including Everest Skydive (since 2008), Kala Patthar Cabinet Meeting of Nepal Government (2009), and First Himalayan Travel Mart (2017), to name a few.
“It is a great honor to have been elected as the new
Secretary/Treasurer. My focus will be both on the synergetic management and
continual development of the travel industry. In taking on this role, I commit
to work together with the executive team, management team and all our members
for the responsible growth of PATA and the whole tourism communities,” Pandey
said on being elected.
