Welcome to Gurung Tourism Entrepreneurs' Association, Nepal

Gurung Tourism Entrepreneurs’ Association, Nepal (GTEAN) was formed and registered with the Kathmandu CDO Office in 2012 by a handful of trekking, Rafting and Travel agents who realized that it was time to assemble and create an umbrella organization. Under which they could work together to meet their common goals and also assist the various tourism umbrella organizations and government by providing suggestions to develop trekking, travel, rafting and other tourism related business into a revenue generating industry. Such a body was necessary for many reasons. There was a need for a single organization, which could undertake the major responsibilities to develop and promote adventure tourism in the country. The need for a responsible body, which could play a significant and conducive role to mitigate mountain environmental stress, was felt essential.

Since the inception of GTEAN not only the trekking, rafting and Travel agencies have been increasing, and so has the GTEAN members. In the initial phase GTEAN limited its membership only to Nepalese trekking, Travel and Rafting agents including Pokhara sector. Nevertheless, it has opened its associate membership to foreign organizations to broaden the scope of the Association.

GTEAN has divided in three types of members such as:- Active member, Allied members and honored member. In the premier phase it has 46 Trekking companies, 16 Travel Agencies and 6 Rafting companies. GTEAN is having proudly its regional member (Pokhara Chapter) too. Centrally members and regional members will meet annually to endorse policy guidelines, which govern the Executive Body. It frequently communicates with the concerned bodies of the various tourism umbrella organizations and government to simplify the procedures and solve the problems related with trekking, travel and rafting. GTEAN has different departments/Committees, which assist to meet its objectives. It also organizes workshops to make its members aware of the rising pollution in trekking routes and other problems encountered by the travelers and travel trade agents. The executive body, which is elected every two years, has 5 office bearers, 10 Executive Members and 2 Nominate Executive Member/s. We also have 6 advisors who will be directly involving in our each and every steps of organization.
Though Tourism Industry have been in operation in Nepal as that have been in other neighbouring countries and without any special attention of Government of requirement of huge investments. And main ingredients for this industry are natural diversity, cultural heritage, religious pilgrimages, indigenous people, living style, transportation facility, communication infrastructure, hotels, restaurants, rural roads, and most importantly quality business being ground level understanding for healthy competition business. In terms of Nepal, owing to lack of government’s proper policies, code of conduct and norms as well as terms there is unhealthy competition in tourism business and never being settled a healthy competition in tourism business. It is also clearly seen that due to lack of unity travel trade people are not being able to take enough support from Nepal government – department of tourism.

As tourism stands as the only short cut and easy way to develop nation as a whole, and hundreds of trek and travel related agents are working with years of experience in this industry, all trekking professionals should be aware, fully noticed and keep in touch regarding the their own contributions and share and their rights from the original outcome.

So there is no doubt that trekking professionals have been working since decades for up gradation of tourism industry and they are aware about the good and bad days this industry have seen in the past. We believe that this experience can be very useful in formulating plans and policies for the industry in upcoming days. We are dedicated in working for enhancement of psychological union between all the trekking Gurung companies and utilizing their knowledge for development of tourism industry of Nepal. We will also raise voice whenever it becomes necessity to manage basic fundamental rights in the involvement of Gurung people in the related umbrella organization however we are very sure and our aim is not advocate only about our cast “Gurung”. We believe GTEAN in Nepal can also guide for social and educational awareness, religious and cultural conservation as well as stand as a pillar for economic revolution of Nepal.

Honestly, by luck or national unpredictable unstable political scenario Gurungs are not being identify in the nation although we had a tourism pioneer late Dr. Harka Gurung who we know and solute him as a “Father of Tourism” in Nepal. We do have innumerable Gurung starts in this industry who had scaled Mt. Everest, has even become international mountaineering guide and instructor, tourism scholars but again as we talked above never being identify by the national who they are and where they are ?

So, in spite of all various reasons, we agreed to have a small government recognized an umbrella organization named Gurung Tourism Entrepreneurs’ Association, Nepal (GTEAN) and very dedicated ourselves to work in tourism industry for mutual benefits more than only our community benefits.

This website has been created with the aim of generating awareness about Gurung Tourism Entrepreneurs Association among all Gurungs and Gurung communities living all into nation and in different parts of the world. It is hoped that as many Gurung communities/associations and individuals will visit this site thus enabling us to exchange our views and ideas on varying topics to bring our links ever closer together.

Last but not the least, we again recall all travel trade pioneers GTEAN will work for Gurung communities as well as entire tourism industry to uplift the national economy by the tourism industry.