While Nepal’s tourism industry has been showing a downward trend, renowned American expedition leader Todd Burleson says that the country’s tourism holds a brighter future.
"Mountaineers from across the world will keep coming to Nepal. This is a country of innumerable attractive mountains, vast water resources and hospitable and friendly people with amazing cultures," says Todd, who is the founder and president of Alpine Ascents International. Todd is considered among the top mountain guides in the world, as he has been able to accomplish unparalleled successes in the mountain guiding industry. He has already climbed all the highest mountains of all the seven continents for two times.
Todd Burleson & Jiban Ghimire tour in Rajasthan, India winter 2005
While Nepal’s tourism industry has been showing a downward trend, renowned American expedition leader Todd Burleson says that the country’s tourism holds a brighter future.
"Mountaineers from across the world will keep coming to Nepal. This is a country of innumerable attractive mountains, vast water resources and hospitable and friendly people with amazing cultures," says Todd, who is the founder and president of Alpine Ascents International. Todd is considered among the top mountain guides in the world, as he has been able to accomplish unparalleled successes in the mountain guiding industry. He has already climbed all the highest mountains of all the seven continents for two times.
He believes that Nepal’s ongoing political instability will come to an end soon, opening doors for her overall development. "When there is peace and stability in Nepal, more tourists will visit here, as it is a dream destination internationally,He first came to Nepal from Alaska of the United States in 1982. As an expedition leader, he climbed Mount Everest in 1992. The 49-year-old mountain guide has, so far, lead eight expeditions to the world’s highest mountain. He still has zeal to explore the wilderness in the mountains. "Climbing high mountains in remote areas has been my life’s passion," says Todd, who has recently gone to the Khumbu Valley for trekking.
He has started loving Nepal as a ‘special destination’ since his first trip to the country. At that time, he was just 22 years old. "During my first trip, I attempted Mt. Pumori," The trip was instrumental for him in the sense that the country of topographical and cultural diversity fascinated him. "It was an important opportunity for me to explore the Himalayas and the Sherpa culture,"Until now, he has come to Nepal for more than three dozen of times.
He was brought up in Alaska where he developed his love for climbing. When he was graduated from High School, he says he received some training in the Northwest and went to Asia at a very young age. "I fell in love with the mountains and the tribal people there. The mountains became my second home," His company-- Alpine Ascents International—not only organizes expeditions in different countries of the world but also conducts mountaineering training programmes.
"After having undergone mountaineering training from our alpine institute in Alaska, climbers develop a dream of attempting Everest and other peaks in the Himalayas," He says the company is committed to developing safe, self-reliant and environmentally conscious mountaineers and offering courses and expeditions of unsurpassed quality. He says his company has been promoting Nepal as an exotic destination for climbing and trekking. "Every visitor is overwhelmed by the generosity of the Nepalese people,"
In 1998, he was awarded the American Alpine Club's prestigious David J. Sowles Award for his rescue efforts on Mt. Everest in 1996. Apart from promoting Nepal as an adventure tourism destination worldwide, he has also taken the initiative to help some Sherpa children from the Khumbu Region. He has established the Alpine Ascents Foundation that has supported some 20 children. "We collect funds from our groups for imparting education to these children,"
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