Suman Pandey, Explore Himalaya President and the former Chairman of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Nepal Chapter (2013- 2018), has been elected as the Secretary/Treasurer of PATA, the largest international travel association working for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region. Mr. Pandey was voted in against his Malaysian counterpart through a virtual voting on 12th October. The newly appointed Executive Board is led by Chairman Soon-Hwa. As a member of the Executive Board, Mr. Pandey, together with his team, is responsible for developing strategies to support tourism boards across Asia Pacific with focus on post-Covid future and beyond. The new Executive Board members were confirmed at the PATA Annual General Meeting held online on October 14, 2020.
Suman Pandey, the President of Explore Himalaya, CEO of Fishtail Air and Directors of Summit Air, Aloft Kathmandu Hotel & Chhaya Center, is an acclaimed tourism professional with 30 years of experience in Nepali Tourism. Notable for his innovative approach and diverse engagements with specialization in the Himalayan Adventure, he is accredited for his leadership role in various organizations including PATA Nepal Chapter, Nepal Tourism Board, Trekking Agent’s Association of Nepal, Airline Operators’ Association of Nepal etc. He is especially known for his remarkable initiation in various historical events including Everest Skydive (Since 2008), Kala Patthar Cabinet Meeting of Nepal Government (2009), First Himalayan Travel Mart (2017) etc.
Mr. Pandey’s remarkable contributions in Nepali Tourism is complimented by various accolades including “Suprasidha Gorkha Dakshin Bahu” from the King of Nepal in 2004; “Tourism Icon” by the Nepal Association of Tourism Journalists in 2018; a “Lifetime Achievement Award” by tourism publication Gantabya Nepal in 2017; “Tourism Man of the year” by Gantabya Nepal in 2010; and a “Lifetime Achievement Award” for contributions in tourism by the “American Biographical Institute” (ABI) based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA in 2008, to name a few.
On being elected, Mr. Pandey said, “It is a great honor to have been elected as the new Secretary/Treasurer. My focus will be both on the synergetic management of the team and the continual development of the region’s travel industry. In taking on this role, I commit to work together with the Executive Team, management team and our all members for the responsible growth of PATA and the whole tourism communities.”
We would like to congratulate Mr. Pandey and the newly appointed Team! We wish the Team every success for all the challenges that lie ahead.
